News

Trump threatens to redistribute Harvard grants to trade schools

2025/05/27 20:00

In a fresh threat against Harvard University over its campus policies, this time, U.S. President Donald Trump suggested taking away grant money for the university. Ahn Sung-jin has the latest. The feud between the Trump administration and Harvard University continues to escalate. Trump posted on his social media Truth Social on Monday that he is "considering taking three billion dollars of grant money from a very antisemitic Harvard." He said he would redirect the three billion dollars in federal grants to trade schools instead. Trump had previously cited concerns over antisemitism on campus for freezing 2-point-2 billion dollars in grants. How Trump is to redistribute the funds and whether the grants come from the funding that he already froze is unclear. His latest remark comes after he demanded Harvard to release the name and nationalities of its international students, and comes and less than a week since a judge halted the Trump administration from barring international students enrolling at Harvard. The Ivy League School had previously argued that the administration's actions were a "blatant violation of the First Amendment" and comes as the university opposes "the government's demands to control Harvard's governance, curriculum and the ideology of its faculty and students." Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

Liverpool's trophy parade horror as car 'collides' with crowd of fans

2025/05/27 20:00

In the U.K. Dozens of people, including children, were hurt after a British driver rammed his minivan into football fans celebrating Liverpool's Premier League title. Authorities are investigating the incident, as they do not treat it as terrorism. Lee Eun-jin has the details. On Monday evening, Liverpool fans came out in the tens of thousands to celebrate the team's Premier League victory. As the parade was wrapping up, a minivan drove into a crowd of fans on Water Street in Liverpool's city center just after 6 PM, local time, shortly after the bus carrying the Liverpool team had passed by. The vehicle struck several pedestrians before coming to a stop. A video on social media showed the van strike a man, tossing him in the air. Ambulance officials said that 20 people were treated at the scene for minor injuries, while 27 were taken to the hospital, including two with serious injuries. At least four children were injured in the collision, and four people were trapped under the vehicle and had to be released by firefighters. The police said they believed it to be an isolated incident, as they arrested the driver, a 53-year-old British man at the scene. Authorities are not treating the incident as terrorism but are investigating what led to the incident and have asked people to refrain from sharing "distressing content online." UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the incident as "appalling" and said those injured and affected are in his thoughts. Liverpool city council leader Liam Robinson said on social media that the incident "cast a very dark shadow over what had been a joyous day." Liverpool FC also posted on social media that their "thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected by this serious incident." Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

Germany scraps range limits on arms sent to Kyiv

2025/05/27 20:00

Amid an alarming escalation in the size and scope of Russia's aerial assaults in recent days, Germany is removing range restrictions placed on weapons provided to Ukraine. Lee Seung-jae has more. Germany has joined other Western supporters of Ukraine in removing range restrictions on weapons being delivered to Ukraine. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday announced that his country will be joining the likes of the United States, the UK, and France in lifting the restrictions, in order to allow Ukraine to be better able to hit military targets on Russian territory. Merz says while there will be opposition from some EU member nations, including Hungary and Slovakia, it won't stop Germany and other bloc members from their continuous support of Ukraine. The German Chancellor also said a small minority could not be allowed to "determine the decisions of the entire European Union" and that by removing restrictions on weapons, Ukraine can now defend itself by attacking military positions in Russia. In response, Russia called the decision "dangerous," saying it would be detrimental to any chance of a peace deal, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Monday, saying such decisions are "completely at odds" with any hopes for a political settlement. The Western allies of Ukraine had initially restricted the use of long-range missiles to targets only within Ukrainian territory under Russian occupation. However, after the dispatch of North Korean troops to the Kursk region, the U.S. and the UK began authorizing the use of long-range missiles to strike targets in Russia. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

DISCREPANCY IN TACKLING TRUMP TARIFFS

2025/05/27 17:30

Welcome to Press Perspective for this Tuesday May 27th here in Seoul. I'm Min Sunhee. Consultation or confrontation? These are the two main choices that countries have to approaching U.S. tariffs. And here in this part of the world South Korea and Japan look to be opting for different strategies despite hopes for the same result that is lower U.S. import duties. For more I have Lee Ji-hoon with Reuters here in the studio. Ji-hoon welcome back. I also have Andrew Salmon with The Washington Times joining this session virtually. Andrew it's great to have you on. 1) Andrew, let's begin with an article that you wrote against the backdrop of the APEC trade ministers' meeting that took place in Korea about a fortnight ago. You compared Seoul and Tokyo's respective responses to Mr. Trump's tariffs, claiming Seoul is talking "quietly" and Japan is talking "tough". Let's begin with your thoughts regarding Seoul's response. 2) Andrew, with regard to Tokyo's response to U.S. tariffs, you underscored Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato's remarks about "Japanese holdings of 1.3 TRILLION U.S. dollars worth of U.S. Treasuries." Do explain the relevance of this reality, and do see Mr. Trump caving in? 3) Meanwhile Ji-hoon, back here in Korea, there has been talk about the need for more time by the liberal party candidate to allow for a productive tariff deal. Do tell us more. 4) Andrew, allegedly angered by the pace of tariff talks with the EU, Trump last week announced a 50-percent tariff on the EU starting June First, which he, then, pushed to July 9th. Do you expect a similar threat against South Korea if talks are prolonged, and if so, are we well positioned to navigate such a potential escalation in trade tensions? 5) Ji-hoon, the conservative party candidate has suggested he is open to defense cost-sharing talks with the U.S. Do fill us in. 6) Andrew, some critics have cautioned against linking the tariff campaign to regional defense, citing the potential negative impact on America's image as a reliable security partner. What have you been hearing? 7) Ji-hoon, let's focus a bit on the latest impact of U.S. tariffs on the South Korean economy. I hear exports during the first three weeks of May were down. What more can you tell us, and what support measures by the government are in place? 8) Andrew, what do you believe is Mr. Trump's endgame with regard to tariffs? I mean, what do you suppose is he seeking to achieve? 9) Ji-hoon, we have some time left, so let's touch upon the tariff threats facing smartphones. Trump wants a bite out of Apple and Samsung is facing a similar scenario. How does this reality look to affect the two smartphone makers? 10) Andrew, aside from bombarding these two businesses, Mr. Trump's Oval Office receptions of foreign leaders are raising international eyebrows following his earlier exchange with Ukrainian President Vlodymyr Zelenksyy and his most recent interaction with South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa. What potential ambush might a South Korean leader face keeping in mind the status quo as we speak? All right.

Russia intensifies attacks on Ukraine as U.S. steps back

2025/05/27 19:00

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon. The war in Ukraine is entering a deeper, more dangerous phase. In the same week that Russia and Ukraine completed their largest prisoner exchange since the invasion began, Moscow launched its most intense aerial assault yet — unleashing over 300 drones and 70 missiles on 30 cities. While President Putin has ordered the creation of a so-called "security buffer zone" along the Russian border, his forces continue to target civilian centers deep inside Ukraine. Kyiv has responded with counterstrikes that now reach the heart of Moscow, signaling that the war's frontlines are no longer fixed. U.S. President Donald Trump, while criticizing both Putin and Zelensky, called the Russian leader "absolutely crazy" and walked back threats of sanctions, raising new questions about Washington's strategic consistency. For a closer look at the situation, we are joined by Lim Eun-jung, a professor of International Studies at Kongju National University. Welcome. Also joining us is Dr. Malcolm Davis, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. Great to see you. 1. (DAVIS) So, as we've heard Dr. Davis, shortly after the largest prisoner exchange of the war, Russia launched its heaviest aerial assault yet. Is this a tactical ploy or a deliberate negotiation strategy by Moscow? 2. (LIM) What about you Prof.Lim? How does the timing of these airstrikes affect the credibility of any future diplomatic overtures from Moscow? 3. (LIM) As for the cause, President Zelensky has repeatedly criticized what he calls "American silence." Professor, what kind of political vacuum does this perceived inaction from Washington create on the international stage? 4. (DAVIS) But following the air strikes, President Trump called Putin "absolutely crazy" this week, despite their long-standing rapport. Dr.Davis, do you interpret this as a genuine shift in tone — or a tactical repositioning as Trump tries to balance criticism of Biden while asserting his own relevance in global diplomacy? 5. (LIM) Meanwhile, President Putin has announced the creation of a "security buffer zone" along Russia's border with Ukraine. Professor, what are the strategic implications of this move for future peace negotiations? 6. (DAVIS) Does the establishment of this buffer zone signal a shift from an offensive war to territorial consolidation? 7. (DAVIS) As for its weapons capabilities, Ukraine's drone strikes have now reached Moscow itself. Dr.Davis, How does this shift — where even Russia's capital isn't immune — reshape the strategic and psychological landscape of the war? 8. (LIM) President Trump stated that this war "would never have started" under his leadership and insists it's "not his war." Prof.Lim, is this rhetorical distance contributing to the stalemate or complicating diplomacy? 9. (DAVIS) In addition to this, President Trump briefly floated the idea of additional sanctions on Russia — only to walk it back days later. Dr.Davis, what message does this kind of ambiguity send to the Kremlin? 10. (LIM) At this point, how realistic is a conditional ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in the near term?

DP's Lee scales back campaign ahead of final debate; PPP's Kim meets with fmr. Pres. Lee

2025/05/27 17:00

Welcome to The Daily Report. Korea's presidential hopefuls have been spending this Tuesday mostly preparing for their final TV debate scheduled to be aired live three hours later that would be at eight this evening. Our correspondent Shin Ha-young starts us off. With one week to go until the election, presidential hopefuls scaled back their campaigns ahead of their final televised debate on Tuesday evening. Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung did not hold any rallies on Tuesday, choosing instead to focus on preparing for the debate. Meanwhile, the DP encouraged people to participate in early voting, which begins on Thursday. Highlighting the record-high turnout in overseas voting, the party said this reflects public sentiment against what it calls insurrection forces. It added that it plans to maintain this momentum through early voting. The party also continued its criticism of People Power Party candidate Kim Moon-soo. "Every time he speaks, it's all false propaganda and misleading agitation. He's a dangerous person. To him, honesty is just a mask, and morality is nothing more than a prop." The PPP's Kim Moon-soo has been putting in efforts to rally as much support as possible from across the political spectrum, including undecided voters, ahead of early voting. Kim met with former President Lee Myung-bak over lunch on Tuesday, in what was seen as an effort to consolidate support among conservative voters. A PPP spokesperson told reporters that Lee encouraged Kim, and advised him to make a sincere effort to pursue a merger with the Reform Party's Lee Jun-seok. This comes a day after Kim met with former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon. Following the meeting, Lee a former chief of the DP voiced his support for Kim on Tuesday, saying that he would join efforts to prevent what he called a "monster dictatorship" if Lee Jae-myung were to win the election. With two days to go until early voting, the PPP expressed confidence in a major comeback. "Kim Moon-soo's character and abilities stand in sharp contrast to Lee Jae-myung's, leaving a strong impression on voters. A major turnaround is coming." Meanwhile, Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok reaffirmed his determination to stay in the presidential race, rejecting a merger with the PPP. During a press conference on Tuesday, he said he would not join forces with those responsible for the declaration of martial law, and that he would fight to the end and win. The third debate between the candidates will take place from 8 PM this evening and last for two hours. They will discuss political polarization, political reform, and possible constitutional amendments. Other topics will include foreign affairs and national security. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

[Weather] The weather is getting hotter and hotter, showers tomorrow

2025/05/27 17:00

Early summer weather continued in the middle of the day today. The areas shown in yellow on the map exceeded 25 degrees Celsius. It rose up to 27 degrees in Seoul, 28 degrees in Gokseong, and 29 degrees in Hapcheon, feeling as hot as summer already. It's going to get hotter and hotter. On Friday, daytime temperature in Seoul will move up to 29 degrees, and to around 30 degrees in most parts of the country. However, there will be temperature swings of around 10 degrees all over the country. Please take care of your health. Tomorrow morning will be very similar to today with Seoul, Gwangju and Daegu at 15 degrees. Highs will move up to 28 degrees in Daejeon and Gwangju, 26 degrees in Chuncheon. There will be frequent showers this week. Showers are forecast all over the country tomorrow and Thursday. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

Increase in domestic mushroom varieties decreases royalties paid overseas

2025/05/27 17:00

A state-run agency has been committed to developing mushroom varieties here at home to ease the burden of royalties and to expand Korea's list of export items. Cha Yun-kyung has details. The Korean mushroom variety, Aram, which has recently begun to be exported to Southeast Asia, has a golden cap with a crisp texture. Even after it is fully grown, the mushroom cap does not spread and remains small, making harvesting and packaging easy. Rural Development Administration developed Aram in 2018, targeting markets in Asia. This contains more than twice as many antioxidants called polyphenols, 그리고 GABA, an amino acid which helps regulate nerve activity and relieves stress, similar to the white enoki mushroom. "We did pilot exports of Aram to Vietnam and Hong Kong, and we received lots of favorable comments, especially for its texture." The Seolwon variety, which is also called the King Oyster Mushroom, is also a domestic type that is getting attention with its chewy texture. It also has a bigger cap than regular Oyster mushrooms, so it is popular as a high-end cooking ingredient. So far, the number of mushrooms developed by the Rural Development Administration amounts to 53 varieties of Enoki, Button and Oyster mushrooms. Thanks to this, the localization rate of mushrooms rose 28-point-1 percentage points over 15 years from 35 percent in 2009 to 63-point-1 percent last year. The royalties paid in foreign countries have thus decreased by more than one-third. "As the varieties we've developed become available to farmers, they can now cut production costs. We can also save royalties paid overseas on a national level." The Rural Development Administration is planning to develop more high-quality mushrooms in the near future. Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.

Step into "painter-poet" Marc Chagall's world

2025/05/27 17:00

Up next we offer you a glimpse of an ongoing exhibition here that shares the works of a master who chose the power of color to evoke emotion. Our culture correspondent Song Yoo-jin has more. Art has a unique ability to transcend time. One artist who has that power is Marc Chagall, often called the "painter-poet" of the 20th century. Chagall's works are known to blur the lines between dreams and reality, blending tradition with innovation, and where colors become emotions. More than a hundred of his pieces have arrived in Korea for the "MARC CHAGALL: Beyond Time" exhibition. "At first glance, Chagall's works may seem playful, full of vivid color and fairytale-like shapes. But if you take a closer look, you'll be drawn into layers of meaning and emotion." Chagall's works have visited Korea before. But this exhibition offers something never seen before. "These seven works are privately owned, so it took months of persuasion to bring them here. As this exhibition marks 40 years since Chagall's passing, we hoped Korea would be the first place to unveil them." Also drawing attention is Chagall's trademark stained glass and ceiling works. Large-scale projections and soundscapes have recreated the ceiling of the Palais Garnier in Paris and stained glass windows from Israel's Hadassah Medical Center. "Stained glass and ceiling paintings aren't something you can display like traditional canvases, so we thought hard about how to present that part of Chagall's world. In the end, we created two immersive spaces, bringing in sound engineers and designing the setup with symbolic visual elements." Rather than organizing his works chronologically, the exhibition unfolds through eight thematic sections based on Chagall's life, such as his major commissions, love for Paris, and flowers. "We hope this exhibition isn't just an encounter with Chagall the artist, but with Chagall the human being. The paintings reflect his emotional journey: joy, sorrow, longing, and love." You can explore "MARC CHAGALL: Beyond Time" until September 21st at Seoul Arts Center's Hangaram Art Museum. Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News.

North Korea's Mt. Kumgang may be added as UNESCO World Heritage

2025/05/27 17:00

North Korea's Mount Kumgang may be added to UNESCO's World Heritage list. The regime handed in a related application back in 2021 but the global COVID-19 pandemic postponed the review process. Evaluation is taking place this year and a decision will be declared during the 47th World Heritage Committee meeting in Paris this July. If Mount Kumgang makes this list it will be North Korea's third World Heritage site. Standing at just over 1-thousand-6-hundred meters it is considered one of the Korean peninsula's most scenic mountains.

Trump threatens to redistribute Harvard grants to trade schools

2025/05/27 17:00

In a fresh threat against Harvard University U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested taking away grant money for the university and giving it to trade schools instead. Ahn Sung-jin has the latest. The feud between the Trump administration and Harvard University continues to escalate. Trump posted on his social media Truth Social on Monday that he is "considering taking three billion dollars of grant money from a very antisemitic Harvard." He said he would redirect the three billion dollars in federal grants to trade schools instead. Trump had previously cited concerns over antisemitism on campus for freezing 2-point-2 billion dollars in grants. How Trump is to redistribute the funds and whether the grants come from the funding that he already froze is unclear. His latest remark comes after he demanded Harvard to release the name and nationalities of its international students, and comes and less than a week since a judge halted the Trump administration from barring international students enrolling at Harvard. The Ivy League School had previously argued that the administration's actions were a "blatant violation of the First Amendment" and comes as the university opposes "the government's demands to control Harvard's governance, curriculum and the ideology of its faculty and students." Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

Liverpool's trophy parade horror as car 'collides' with crowd of fans

2025/05/27 17:00

In the U.K. Dozens of people including children were hurt after a British driver rammed his minivan into football fans celebrating Liverpool's Premier League title Monday evening. Lee Eun-jin covers this calamity. On Monday evening, Liverpool fans came out in the tens of thousands to celebrate the team's Premier League victory. As the parade was wrapping up, a minivan drove into a crowd of fans on Water Street in Liverpool's city center just after 6 PM, local time, shortly after the bus carrying the Liverpool team had passed by. The vehicle struck several pedestrians before coming to a stop. A video on social media showed the van strike a man, tossing him in the air. Ambulance officials said that 20 people were treated at the scene for minor injuries, while 27 were taken to the hospital, including two with serious injuries. At least four children were injured in the collision, and four people were trapped under the vehicle and had to be released by firefighters. The police said they believed it to be an isolated incident, as they arrested the driver, a 53-year-old British man at the scene. Authorities are not treating the incident as terrorism but are investigating what led to the incident and have asked people to refrain from sharing "distressing content online." UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the incident as "appalling" and said those injured and affected are in his thoughts. Liverpool city council leader Liam Robinson said on social media that the incident "cast a very dark shadow over what had been a joyous day." Liverpool FC also posted on social media that their "thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected by this serious incident." Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

Israeli strikes kill 52 in Gaza, including 36 in school-turned shelter

2025/05/27 17:00

In the Middle East. There have been dozens of more deaths following an Israeli air strike on a school in Gaza. Israeli forces claim the school served as a Hamas hideout. Palestinian authorities say it was a shelter for displaced women and children. Choi Chi-hee reports. On Monday, a school-turned-shelter in Gaza City's Daraj neighborhood was one of the two targets hit by an Israeli airstrike. Hundreds of people, mostly women and children, were sheltering there at the time. "This isn't normal. What kind of missiles are they dropping? What are they doing? I don't understand. All of them were children -the three children were burned, along with their mother." According to Gaza's Civil Defense, the attack, which reportedly occurred while occupants were sleeping, killed at least 36 individuals and injured dozens of others. The Israel Defense Forces said the strikes targeted a Hamas and Islamic Jihad command and control center, believed to be operating within the school premises. They asserted that the facility was being used for planning attacks against Israeli civilians and troops. However, local witnesses and Palestinian officials have denied the presence of militants at the site. "There is no military in it, there is not even a piece of a weapon in it." In a separate strike, 16 people were killed when the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza was hit. The attacks have drawn international condemnation, including from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who cautioned against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu taking excessive military actions. Merz said he no longer "understands what Israel is trying to achieve." Ireland's deputy prime minister said legislation for a potential ban on imports from Israeli settlements would be unveiled on Tuesday. Also on Monday, a new aid system in Gaza, backed by the U.S., opened its first distribution hubs following months of being blockaded by Israel. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has taken over the handling of aid, and truckloads of food delivered to its hubs have begun to be distributed to Palestinians on the same day. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

Germany scraps range limits on arms sent to Kyiv

2025/05/27 17:00

Germany is removing range restrictions placed on weapons provided to Ukraine amid an alarming escalation in the size and scope of Russia's aerial assaults in recent days. Lee Seung-jae tells us what this means. Germany has joined other Western supporters of Ukraine in removing range restrictions on weapons being delivered to Ukraine. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday announced that his country will be joining the likes of the United States, the UK, and France in lifting the restrictions, in order to allow Ukraine to be better able to hit military targets on Russian territory. Merz says while there will be opposition from some EU member nations, including Hungary and Slovakia, it won't stop Germany and other bloc members from their continuous support of Ukraine. The German Chancellor also said a small minority could not be allowed to "determine the decisions of the entire European Union" and that by removing restrictions on weapons, Ukraine can now defend itself by attacking military positions in Russia. In response, Russia called the decision "dangerous," saying it would be detrimental to any chance of a peace deal, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Monday, saying such decisions are "completely at odds" with any hopes for a political settlement. The Western allies of Ukraine had initially restricted the use of long-range missiles to targets only within Ukrainian territory under Russian occupation. However, after the dispatch of North Korean troops to the Kursk region, the U.S. and the UK began authorizing the use of long-range missiles to strike targets in Russia. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

K-cosmetics production, shipments hit record highs, ranking S. Korea third largest exporter

2025/05/27 17:00

Korea's cosmetic production and exports hit new highs last year soaring over 20 percent on year. According to the Drug Safety Ministry on this Tuesday shipments overseas amounted to 10-point-2 billion U.S. dollars raising Korea's ranking to third place for exports of cosmetics right after France and the U.S. respectively. Korea outperformed Germany which previously ranked third.

S. Korea marks 1st Aerospace Day, Acting Pres. Lee Ju-ho pledges support for strategic tech

2025/05/27 17:00

South Korea marked its first Aerospace Day on this Tuesday as it seeks to make significant strides in space exploration. And amid the auspicious occasion acting President Lee Ju-ho attended a ceremony at the Korea AeroSpace Administration in Sacheon Gyeongsangnam-do Province to commemorate the first anniversary of the agency's founding. There he pledged full support for the development of reusable launch vehicles and ultra-high-resolution satellites while stressing the importance of public-private collaboration on the final frontier. Lee was also at the Korea Aerospace Industries today for talks with related experts.

Foreign policy: What South Korea’s presidential hopefuls are promising

2025/05/27 17:00

Indeed the candidates will be sharing their thoughts on defense and diplomatic strategies during their debate tonight but ahead of that four-way discussion my colleague Kim Jung-sil took the liberty of preparing for us a quick rundown of the foreign policies of the top three presidential contenders. Do take a listen. In the final stretch of the presidential race, foreign policy may not be driving the race at home, but outside South Korea, eyes are on how the next president will navigate the situation on the Korean Peninsula. Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung favors a pragmatic, multi-layered strategy. His foreign policy centers on a strong ROK-U.S. alliance, while expanding diplomatic engagement with China, Japan, and Russia. "With a strong ROK-U.S. alliance, I'll lead a pragmatic, national-interest-based diplomacy to expand South Korea's global role and secure lasting peace." He also backs the return of wartime operational control from the current U.S.-led command structure to South Korea, and phased nuclear talks with the North. By contrast, People Power Party candidate Kim Moon-soo takes a tougher line. He argues that in a region surrounded by constant threats, diplomacy must be backed by credible deterrence. "If the U.S. forces were gone, how would we deal with China? With North Korea? How would a divided nation like ours, surrounded by Japan and Russia, and facing the worst geopolitical conditions ever, handle the North's nuclear threat?" Kim also supports reviewing tactical nuclear deployments if North Korea's threats escalate. At the same time, he backs developing nuclear-powered submarines to counter North Korea's SLBM-capable subs, citing India and Australia as precedents. Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok has yet to lay out a full foreign policy platform. But his defense proposals focus on internal reform: expanding officer recruitment through conscript performance, and linking military service to academic support. With global uncertainty mounting, South Korea's next president will be expected to act swiftly, whether through alliances, deterrence, or reform. And with just a week left before the vote, the country's foreign policy future remains wide open. Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.

S. Korea's May CSSI posts largest Increase in 55 months, signals growing optimism

2025/05/27 17:00

In other news. Findings for the month of May show Korea's consumer confidence is regaining strength. Park Jun-han has the latest figures. South Korea's consumer sentiment in May saw its largest increase in 4 years and 7 months. The Bank of Korea released on Tuesday the country's Composite Consumer Sentiment Index, which reflects consumers' views on the state of the economy. Rising by 8 points from April's 93.8 to 101.8 in May, the index recorded its strongest one-month gain since October 2020. A CCSI above 100 indicates optimistic consumer sentiment compared to the average of the last twenty years. For the past five months, the index has remained below 100. However, as the index in May surpassed 100, it signaled a shift from pessimism to optimism. The index's six elements, including current living standards and prospective household spending, all saw a rise in May, with prospective domestic economic conditions rising by 18 points compared to last month. Among the various components, several indicators pointed to a rise in optimism. This shift is likely tied to the 90-day suspension of "reciprocal" U.S. tariffs that helped ease some concerns over global trade uncertainty. Also, expectations surrounding the new administration's economic policies after the upcoming election, along with anticipated progress in South Korea-U.S. tariff negotiations, contributed to the boost in consumer confidence. Meanwhile, prospective housing prices in May recorded 111, three points higher than last month. The outlook for housing prices has been rising for three straight months, as more people expect further increases due to continued apartment price hikes in the metropolitan area. Park Jun-han, Arirang News.

[K-enter] YG announces ambitious plans for BLACKPINK's comeback

2025/05/27 14:00

So Bella, let's kick off today's K-enter with some highly anticipated news. What do you have? BLACKPINK in your area! BLACKPINK will make a comeback this year. On Monday, Yang Hyun-suk, the chief producer of YG Entertainment, attracted attention by personally introducing the masterplan for the second half of this year, and that includes the comeback schedule for BLACKPINK. The full comeback of BLACKPINK is the first since the release of their last album "BORN PINK" in 2022, about 2 years and 8 months ago. So, expectations are very high for what new history this group will create after each members' successful solo activities. The comeback details are not out yet, but BLACKPINK will hold their new world tour "DEADLINE" at Goyang Sports Complex on July 5th and 6th. Excited to finally see them perform as a group. Moving onto some news about a boy group. KickFlip only released their debut album in January, but already, they're dropping a second mini-album. On Monday, KickFlip held a media showcase at YES24 Live Hall in Seoul to celebrate the release of their second mini-album, "Kick Out, Flip Now!" The new album includes seven tracks, including the title track "FREEZE," which is a dance song with a 90s pop-punk vibe. The members participated in making this track as the youngest member Donghyun composed the song, and Kyehoon, Donghwa, and Minjae wrote the lyrics. Notably, the new release surpassed 350-thousand pre-orders, demonstrating the intense interest surrounding the K-pop super rookies. KickFlip are a relatively new group, so for people who may not be familiar with them, they are JYP's new boy group with 7 members. The group's name KickFlip refers to a skateboarding trick that symbolizes breaking out of their shell and moving forward. KickFlip have also confirmed their appearance at "Lollapalooza Chicago" and "Summer Sonic Bangkok" in August. Looking forward to this rookie group's future activities. Our last story is also on a boy group, but in relation with the screen? Infinite will celebrate the 15th anniversary of their debut with a concert film. CGV revealed the trailer for "INFINITE 15TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT LIMITED EDITION THE MOVIE." It features the members' invitational message to their fans, Inspirits, with their hit song "Be Mine" in the background. The new film features a performance from the group's 15th anniversary world tour "Limited Edition" held in December last year at KSPO DOME in Seoul. It will capture exciting and touching moments from the concert, including breathtaking performances, exclusive behind-the-scenes clips, and heartfelt stories and memories from the members. "INFINITE 15TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT LIMITED EDITION THE MOVIE" will be available nationwide, exclusive in CGV, on June 11th. Can't believe it's been 15 years for them. Thank you Bella for today's stories. It's now time to go over to our AI anchor Ari, for other culture-related news. Ari, take it away!

K-wave AI News

2025/05/27 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. A set of prehistoric petroglyphs located in Ulju county in the southeastern city of Ulsan is expected to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The International Council on Monuments and Sites has recommended the rock carvings, dating back more than 6,000 years, for UNESCO inscription. The heritage sites, considered the pinnacle of prehistoric culture on the Korean Peninsula, include the petroglyphs in Daegok-ri and Cheonjeon-ri, located in Ulju County. The carvings feature a range of imagery, including animals, hunting scenes, geometric patterns, and inscriptions, offering rare insight into the Neolithic era to the Silla period. The final decision will be made at a World Heritage Committee meeting in Paris in July. Meanwhile, North Korea's Kumgang Mountain is expected to gain UNESCO World Heritage status after a four-year application process. Renowned for its seasonal beauty, it's considered one of the Korean peninsula's most scenic mountains. World-renowned soprano Sumi Jo was awarded the highest rank of France's Order of Arts and Letters on Monday by the French Ministry of Culture. The medal was presented by former French Culture Minister Fleur Pellerin, a French national of Korean descent. The Order of Arts and Letters honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the arts and literature or have helped promote French culture globally. Sumi Jo becomes the third Korean recipient of the award, following Kim Jeong-ok, former President of the Korean Culture and Arts Foundation in 2002, and conductor Chung Myung-whun in 2011. Saying the award means a new beginning, Jo shared her commitment to supporting and inspiring young talent. The '2025 Gangneung Danoje Festival,' a millennium-old tradition and UNESCO-recognized Intangible Cultural Heritage, kicked off today. Marking the 20th anniversary of its UNESCO inscription, this year's festival features an expanded lineup of rich cultural events. Highlights include ancestral rites, shamanistic rituals, diverse folk games, and a special exhibition on the festival's history. Adding an international flair, performers from abroad, including teams from Slovakia, Slovakia, Japan, and Mongolia, will present captivating cultural showcases. The festival runs through June 3 along the Namdaecheon Stream in Gangneung. That's all from me. Stay tuned to the Kulture Wave.