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[Features-reporter] Overcoming loneliness through local community: Seoul’s ‘Mind Convenience Stores’

[Features-reporter] Overcoming loneliness through local community: Seoul’s ‘Mind Convenience Stores’

2025/04/16 14:00

Believing in the power of local communities, special convenience stores have opened in Seoul to tackle loneliness and isolation. They offer not just simple meals, but also a place where you can open up your heart. Our News Features reporter Choi Soo-hyung delivers us the story. Soup is cooked in a simple instant cooker. Neighbors gather to chat and share warm food, enjoying a comforting lunch together. This is “Mind Convenience Store”, a place run by the Seoul Metropolitan government and local district offices. Here, anyone can come in and enjoy a free meal. For those living alone, this store becomes a cozy, welcoming space. "I really like it. We get to enjoy a nice cup of tea and have delightful chats with other seniors. It’s all just so nice." A report from the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs last year found that nearly 80 percent of single-person households in the country are at risk of dying alone. The government created this space to overcome loneliness by fostering small local communities with the power of togetherness. With donated goods from private businesses, the store offers not only shared meals, but also programs to ease loneliness and prevent social isolation. Through a self-test, people can assess their loneliness, and social workers are on-site for immediate support if needed. "Visitors can assess their loneliness and, if needed, they go through an additional checklist that looks at daily life and potential crisis areas. Based on the results, we provide counseling, or connect them to special programs offered at Mind Convenience Store, all through a one-stop support system." Starting in late March, it has now opened in four districts across Seoul in Gangbuk-gu, Dobong-gu, Gwanak-gu, and Dongdaemun-gu. Although it’s only been open about three weeks, the Dobong-gu store is already welcoming over 60 local residents a day. "Until now, we didn't have many cozy spaces in the area where locals could gather and talk like this. But the response from the residents has been even better than expected, they are happy to have a place that’s comfortable and easy to use." The stores plan to launch many programs that will not only target the elderly but also include young adults and middle-aged groups. In addition, the Seoul Metropolitan government plans to open more Mind Convenience Stores, aiming to have one in each district by 2027. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News. It's assuring to have these new ideas to help people deal with loneliness, but it's also sad to know we need such measures. Right, as it shows how big of a problem loneliness has become here in the country. A survey by the culture ministry last year said roughly seven out of ten Koreans felt lonely on a regular basis. What it also said is that culture can solve this issue as cultural content can play a positive role in raising people's happiness. And doesn't Korea have plenty of that to show? Of course and we have more culture to show in our program, coming up.

[K-Enter] BTS's Jin to release second mini-album

[K-Enter] BTS's Jin to release second mini-album

2025/04/16 14:00

Starting off with news on a new mini album! Who is it from? (who is it from? who is it from?) (That's the hint to what the album is called ) BTS's Jin has revealed the promotion for his second mini-album "Echo" through BTS's official social media. He actually dropped the promotion at midnight local time, which was too late for me! The album is set to be released on May 16. It captures how the various moments in life spread like different forms of "echoes." This comes roughly six months after his first solo album "Happy" in November last year. His decision for making a quick return was that he wanted to stay connected to his fan base. Jin is also busy these days featuring on Netflix's reality show "Kian's bizarre B&B". "Echo" will be released worldwide on May 16 at 1 p.m. Korean local time. I am sure that this will be another album that won't disappoint. Now, we move on to hanbok and Park Bo-gum news, that we hinted on before I mean, he has starred in dramas that required him to wear hanbok but what's the news about? Actor Park Bo-gum , who recently starred alongside IU in the Netflix series "When Life Gives You Tangerines," has been selected as a Korean cultural arts ambassador to promote the beauty of Korea's traditional hanbok clothing to the world for the "2025 Hanbok Wave" program according to The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Now in its sixth year, Hanbok Wave is a project where hanbok companies with potential and technical skill collaborate with Korean cultural artists to develop hanbok-related products. In 2022, former superstar figure skater Kim Yuna participated in the project, followed by K-pop girl group Miss-A member and actress Suzy and actress Kim Tae-ri . Park Bo-gum is the first male model to be selected for this role. Park will collaborate with four domestic hanbok brands to promote the elegance and dignity of hanbok. I like the name of the program "2025 Hanbok Wave", well we'd be welcoming him with open arms on "The Kulture Wave" to showcase the beauty of hanbok to the world. Lastly we have updates on the Kim Sae-ron and Kim Soo-hyun case? Since allegations of actor Kim Soo-hyun's romantic relationship with the late actress Kim Sae-ron while she was underage surfaced from a YouTube channel, Kim Soo-hyun has been met with constant malicious comments. On Tuesday, Kim Soo-hyun's agency, Gold Medalist, issued an official statement revealing that they had filed legal complaints against individuals posting malicious content. The agency stated: "Recently, malicious posts, comments, and false information targeting Kim Soo-hyun have been recklessly spread online. Based on active reports from fans and our internal monitoring, we submitted a complaint on April 14 to investigative authorities for defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act and insult under the Criminal Act." On March 31, Kim Soo-hyun held an emergency press conference, where he denied all allegations and announced his intent to pursue legal action against the YouTube channel responsible for leaking said allegations and also Kim Sae-ron's parents. Thank you for that news Walter, don't go anywhere as we now move onto more culture news with our AI anchor Ari. Take it away Ari.

Hamas rejects Israeli ceasefire disarmament proposal

Hamas rejects Israeli ceasefire disarmament proposal

2025/04/16 10:00

Let's begin with the ongoing Gaza conflict, as Hamas has reportedly rejected Israel's latest ceasefire proposal. Fill us in. Right. A senior Palestinian official said Hamas rejected a new Israeli ceasefire offer that demanded the group's disarmament. The ceasefire, presented by Israel to Hamas through mediators Egypt and Qatar on Monday, reportedly included the disarmament of Hamas as a condition for the first time. However, on Tuesday, Hamas is said to have rejected the offer, labeling the disarmament clause a "red line" for the group and asserting that it will not surrender its weapons under any circumstances. The offer also included a six-week truce and a phased release of more hostages. Hamas insists that any agreement must include a permanent end to hostilities and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The rejection of the ceasefire proposal comes amid ongoing negotiations in Cairo, which have yet to yield a breakthrough.

S. Korean FM to meet U.S. Treasury chief next week for trade talks

S. Korean FM to meet U.S. Treasury chief next week for trade talks

2025/04/16 10:00

South Korean Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is set to visit the U.S. next week for trade talks with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. According to Yonhap News Agency on Wednesday, Choi's trip comes in response to a meeting proposal from U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The report follows Bessent's interview with Bloomberg TV on Monday, where he said Washington would hold trade negotiations with South Korea next week. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week that the Trump administration is prioritizing negotiations with five countries, including South Korea and Japan.

'Ball is in China's court' on tariffs: White House

'Ball is in China's court' on tariffs: White House

2025/04/16 10:00

In the meantime, Trump continues to press China that it's up to Beijing to come to the negotiating table over tariffs, leaving the ball in China's court. Lee Seung-jae has more. The two biggest economies in the world have been going blow-for-blow on tariffs, with China imposing 125 percent tariffs on U.S. goods, while the U.S. has imposed tariffs of up to 145 percent on Chinese imports. With neither side backing down, U.S. President Donald Trump believes it's up to China to come to the negotiating table. "The president has made his position on China quite clear, although I do have an additional statement that he just shared with me in the Oval office. The ball is in China's court: China needs to make a deal with us, we don't have to make a deal with them." The White House Press Secretary added that "there's no difference between China and any other country except they are much larger," noting that other countries have initiated trade talks first. Leavitt also pointed to the strength of the U.S. consumer market as leverage against China. While trade tensions between Washington and Beijing have been brewing for years, the situation has worsened since Trump took office in January. While it started off with the U.S. leader imposing tariffs on Chinese goods over its alleged role in the fentanyl trade, it's gone beyond that, with Trump imposing additional tariffs, on top of duties from previous administrations. Not only has China imposed its own massive tariffs against U.S. goods, but it's also using its rare earth supplies as leverage. Consumers fear the tariff war between the two countries will only escalate further, with no sign of talks from either country. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

EU calls for further efforts from U.S. for fair trade deal

EU calls for further efforts from U.S. for fair trade deal

2025/04/16 10:00

The U.S. and EU held their long-due tariff talks on Tuesday, only to make minimal progress in bridging their differences. Our Park Kun-woo starts us off EU trade officials met with their U.S. counterparts in Washington, D.C., on Monday to reach a deal on tariffs, but were unable to bridge gaps in their stances on trade. According to the European Commission on Tuesday, the EU's proposal of zero-for-zero reciprocal tariffs on industrial goods, including cars along with non-tariff barriers, were among the main items on the agenda. It added talks about overcapacity in steel and aluminum, and the resilience of supply chains in semiconductors and pharmaceutical sectors were also part of the talks. And the EU emphasized it would not budge on standards, standing firm on "red lines," including food, health, and safety, as well as regulations regarding technology and the digital market. European Commission spokesperson Olof Gill urged the U.S. to clarify its stance, saying the EU is doing its part, and more engagement from Washington is needed to keep the process moving. Following Monday's meeting, EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic posted on social media, saying a "significant joint effort" from both sides would be needed to reach a fair deal, adding that the EU is ready. Officials from the U.S. trade representative's office reportedly did not respond to requests for comments on the U.S. stance following the meeting. With the EU's 90-day pause on retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods set to last until July 14, EU officials say further measures are also being discussed internally in case no agreement is reached by then. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

[Weather] Pleasant warm up in store

[Weather] Pleasant warm up in store

2025/04/16 10:00

Many people wore winter jackets yesterday while walking the sidewalks filled with spring blossoms. But we could be shaking off that chill with a pleasant warm-up today! Those afternoon temperatures are really going to bounce back, rising a good 8 degrees warmer than yesterday. Wth this big swing in temperatures, we're looking at a significant daily temperature range of about 10 to 15 degrees in most parts of Korea, so layering will be a good idea. Meanwhile, the wind will still be a bit of a factor today. Jeju Island, in particular, could see some pretty strong winds, so a strong wind advisory is likely there. And come afternoon, we're talking highs of 22 degrees Celsius in Seoul and Chuncheon, 24 in Daejeon and Gwangju under fairly bright skies with good air quality. Expect temperatures to remain generally warmer than average for the next few days. However, we do have rain in the forecast for this Saturday. But for today, enjoy the sunshine and the warmer afternoon!

Macron decorates those who restored Notre-Dame on 6th anniversary of fire

Macron decorates those who restored Notre-Dame on 6th anniversary of fire

2025/04/16 10:00

Finally, in France, President Emmanuel Macron honored a hundred-and-one individuals who played significant roles in the restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris on Tuesday local time. The ceremony at the Elysee presidential palace coincided with the sixth anniversary of the devastating fire at the cathedral in 2019. Among the honorees were carpenters, carpenters, ironworkers, scaffolders, organ restorers, and dozens of other craftspeople recognized for their contributions. Prestigious awards presented by Macron included the Legion of Honour and the National Order of Merit. Commander of the Legion of Honour, France's highest public distinction, was bestowed upon Philippe Jost, who supervised the reconstruction.

Trump threatens Harvard's tax-exempt status after freezing US$ 2 bil. funding

Trump threatens Harvard's tax-exempt status after freezing US$ 2 bil. funding

2025/04/16 10:00

In the United States, President Donald Trump threatened to revoke Harvard's tax-exempt status on Tuesday, accusing the university of promoting political agendas contrary to public interest. The Trump administration has frozen over 2.2 billion U.S. dollars in federal grants and contracts to Harvard after the university rejected demands to overhaul its academic programs, including eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and increasing cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Harvard's president hit back saying, "The university will not surrender its independence or its constitutional rights." Former President Barack Obama praised Harvard's stance and urged other institutions to defend academic independence.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu visits northern Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu visits northern Gaza

2025/04/16 10:00

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made an unannounced visit to northern Gaza to encourage troops, marking a rare appearance in the conflict zone. On Tuesday local time, Netanyahu met with Israeli troops, accompanied by Defense Minister Israel Katz and top military officials. He received briefings on ongoing operations aimed at dismantling Hamas and securing the release of hostages. Netanyahu reiterated Israel's commitment to achieving its war objectives, stating, "We are fighting for our existence. We are fighting for our future." During his visit, he also addressed a recent statement by Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying that Iran's calls for Israel's destruction show the existential nature of the conflict.

Beyond Division: Yang Han-jong's 1 billion KRW donation for N. Korean defectors brings new hope

Beyond Division: Yang Han-jong's 1 billion KRW donation for N. Korean defectors brings new hope

2025/04/16 10:00

Up next we share with you the story of one elderly man who is seeking emotional closure through a generous donation to help defectors build a new home here in South Korea. Our Kim Jung-sil has his story. 89-year-old Yang Han-jong's life reflects the deep pain and division that has shaped Korea for decades. His story, filled with personal tragedy, is one shared by many families torn apart by the invisible line that divides North and South Korea. In 1947, when Yang was only 11, his father, a respected intellectual, made the life-changing decision to defect to North Korea. This left Yang, his mother, and five siblings behind in the South. The family's world was shattered, and poverty took over. Yang's father's name became a source of shame. "I was just a child when my father went over to the North My mother, at 33, was left alone to raise six children. We lived in a small room, so poor it's hard to describe." Despite everything, Yang's resilience was stronger than the weight of his sorrow. In Seoul, during the 1970s and 1980s, he built a successful life running 'Sansugapsan,' a classical music nightclub that became a haven for the city's artistic community. But even in success, the memory of his father and the division within Korea never really faded. It wasn't until later in life that Yang found peace—by giving back. Earlier this month, Yang's donation was recognized at Hanawon, a South Korean center helping North Korean defectors. His contribution of one billion won, about 700,000 U.S. dollars, will be distributed as around 500 dollars per person, each month, until the fund is used up. For Yang, this is about more than just financial help—it's about giving North Korean defectors a fresh start. "I hope this small donation will help North Korean defectors build new lives here. The South is different from the North. Here, you can make something of yourself with your own efforts, and I want them to feel that possibility, that they can dream again." Yang's family is equally proud of his decision. Choi Han-chul, Yang's stepson, voiced his full support. "I'm very proud of my father. I think that the money will be a great help to the people who evacuated from North Korea." In his later years, Yang has found a way to bridge the gap—turning his painful past into something lasting and meaningful for others. Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.

11th anniversary memorial ceremony to take place at site of Sewol Ferry disaster

11th anniversary memorial ceremony to take place at site of Sewol Ferry disaster

2025/04/16 10:00

Wednesday marks 11 years since the tragic Sewol Ferry disaster, which claimed the lives of 304 people, most of them high school students. The April 16th Foundation will hold a memorial service at 10:30 AM, on a boat close to where the ferry sank in Jindo-gun, Jeollanam-do Province. The memorial service will include the reading out of the names of the victims and speeches given by family members. Other organizations will hold memorial services all over the country, including in Ansan, Gyeonggi-do Province, where most of the victims were students at Danwon High School. A memorial service will also be held at the Sewol Ferry Memorial Hall in Paengmokhang Port, near the disaster site from 1 PM.

Korean content ranked second place in global viewership on Netflix

Korean content ranked second place in global viewership on Netflix

2025/04/16 10:00

Movies and dramas from South Korea are the second most-watched content on Netflix worldwide. According to global media analytics firm Ampere on Tuesday, Korean content has maintained the number two position behind the U.S. since 2023, accounting for nearly 10 percent of global viewership on the platform. The report said strong content production capabilities and licensing strategies were key factors behind the success. It also cited shows, including Squid Game and Culinary Class Wars, as standout examples. The UK and Japan followed in 3rd and 4th place on the list.

Registration closes for presidential candidacy for major parties

Registration closes for presidential candidacy for major parties

2025/04/16 10:00

The candidate list for the presidential primaries is now complete. Three from the Democratic Party and 11 from the People Power Party. Those from the PPP who will advance to the first round of the primary will be announced on Wednesday. Our Kim Do-yeon reports. The official registration for candidacy for the upcoming presidential election closed for both parties on Tuesday. The Democratic Party of Korea has three contestants, while the People Power Party has eleven. The DP's race is largely seen as predictable, with its former chair Lee Jae-myung set to take the party's ticket. However, Kim Kyung-soo, former Gyeongsangnam-do Province Governor and Kim Dong-yeon, current Gyeonggi-do Province Governor are, in their own right, heavyweight politicians. With just one day to go until the first regional voting opens for electors of the Chungcheong-do provinces, candidates continued to promote their bids. Lee released an interview with Roh Moo-hyun Foundation's YouTube channel. Kim Kyung-soo, after handing in the registration paper himself met with small business owners in Gyeonggi-do Province. Kim Dong-yeon held a meeting to follow up on his visit to the U.S. to deal with U.S. tariffs, focusing on the auto industry. Both of them are non-Lee Jae-myung faction politicians in the DP, with backers of their own. Meanwhile, with many more contestants for People Power Party, in a week, the list will be cut down to 4 in the first round cut-off. Among the registered, 8 notable contestants are Kim Moon-soo, the latest labor minister, four-term lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo, former PPP chair Han Dong-hoon, the latest Daegu mayor Hong Joon-pyo, five-term lawmaker Na Kyung-won, Incheon mayor Yoo Jeong-bok, Gyeongsanbuk-do Province governor Lee Cheol-woo, and former lawmaker Yang Hyang-ja. With the media day for the runners coming up on Wednesday candidates promoted their bids. Han Dong-hoon, Hong Joon-pyo, and Na Kyung-won shared detailed pledges and visions. Kim Moon-soo and Lee Cheol-woo went to visit former president Park Jung-hee's memorial. What they all had in common, however, was their messages against the DP's Lee Jae-myung as he leads the polls to become the next president. They unilaterally criticized Lee's ongoing legal battles and said that his pledges are too liberal. All in all, the final candidate will be chosen within a couple of weeks. For DP, the final candidate is likely to be decided by April 27th, with Lee expected to take more than 50-percent of the final vote. For the PPP, if a candidate takes more than 50-percent of votes in the second round, then it'll end on April 29th if not, there's a run-off on May 3rd. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

On-point: How to remove S. Korea from U.S. sensitive countries list?

On-point: How to remove S. Korea from U.S. sensitive countries list?

2025/04/16 10:00

One thing after another South Korea is now officially a sensitive country to the U.S. as of Tuesday. How can it be removed from the sensitive country list? We are joined by Professor Chai Sangmi. Good morning. 1. What is a 'sensitive' country to begin with, according to the U.S.? 2. It all started with visitors to U.S. labs who mishandled sensitive information, the U.S. argues. 3. The designation is even more concerning in that it will impair bilateral cooperation in science and technology and pose economic limitations. 4. Does the designation have anything to do with Trump's tariffs? 5. Can the designation be dropped? How? Thank you Professor Chai for sharing your insight with us this morning.

Gov't proposes larger extra budget for disaster, trade response

Gov't proposes larger extra budget for disaster, trade response

2025/04/15 20:00

The Finance Ministry has proposed an extra budget of 12-trillion won or some 8-billion U.S. dollars. The proposal was made during a ministerial economic meeting on Tuesday during which Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok said the government will submit what he called the "necessary" supplementary budget to the National Assembly next week. The budget, up 1-point-4 billion U.S. dollars from the initial proposal, includes 2-billion dollars for disaster response, 3-billion dollars for trade and AI, and 3-billion dollars for small businesses and vulnerable groups.

S. Korea's auto exports to U.S. drop in first quarter, even before reciprocal tariffs take effect

S. Korea's auto exports to U.S. drop in first quarter, even before reciprocal tariffs take effect

2025/04/15 20:00

Korea's overall auto exports rose on-year during the first quarter of 2025, but shipments to the U.S. market declined over 11-percent ahead of U.S. tariffs. Park Jun-han explains. South Korea's automobile exports in March were valued at 6.24 billion dollars — the second-highest figure for the month on record. Data released by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy on Tuesday showed that the earnings from automobile shipments posted year-on-year growth in both February and March, marking two consecutive months of gains. Year-on-year auto exports to Asia and the Middle East in the first quarter saw significant increases of 37% ( 1) and 22.7% ( 2), respectively. However, preliminary data shows that shipments to the United States fell by 11.2% ( 3) over the same period compared to last year. The auto industry is concerned that the decline in exports to the U.S. will lead to a fall in South Korea's overall exports, as the 25% auto tariff could further reduce demand. "We expect that exports to the U.S. will likely continue to decline this year, as prices rise due to tariffs and demand in the U.S. market drops significantly. With demand from the U.S. weakening, South Korean car companies need to look for alternative markets to help make up for the shortfall." As South Korea's automobile industry is directly under the influence of the United States' tariff policies, the trade ministry laid out a policy support framework for Korean companies last Wednesday, after automobile tariffs separate from the so-called reciprocal tariffs went into effect. The ministry said that it plans to swiftly implement necessary support measures and respond flexibly by closely monitoring both the extent of the damage and the progress of negotiations with the United States. Park Jun-han, Arirang News.

Trump signals tariff relief for auto industry following exemptions on electronics

Trump signals tariff relief for auto industry following exemptions on electronics

2025/04/15 20:00

And this time, Trump has hinted at potential relief from tariffs for the auto industry to give them time to adjust their supply chains. Moon Hye-ryeon reports. U.S. President Donald Trump has signaled another wave of temporary tariff suspensions — this time, for the auto industry. Speaking to reporters on Monday, he said that he was looking to help car companies with potential pushbacks on his 25 percent tariffs on complete vehicle and parts imports. "I'm looking at something to help some of the car companies where they're switching to parts that were made in Canada, Mexico, and other places, and they need a little bit of time because they're going to make them here, but they need a little bit of time." He did not specify when this pause would be implemented nor how long automakers would be granted relief. Levies on fully built vehicles took effect on April 3rd, and those on parts are due to be implemented in stages no later than May 3rd — prompting automakers to lobby for exclusions over the past few weeks. Shares of U.S. car companies, including General Motors and Ford Motor Company, peaked following his comments — reflecting investor optimism that the administration may be softening its stance, at least temporarily, to cushion the impact of trade tensions on vehicle manufacturers. Trump also mentioned that he had spoken to Tim Cook, the head of Apple, and "helped" him and "that whole business". On Friday, the Trump administration granted exemptions for popular consumer electronics from weighty tariffs on Chinese products and the baseline tariff on imports from other countries, stating that these products would instead be levied based on its national security investigation on semiconductors. Amid these shifts in trade policy, the U.S. stock market has seen fluctuations — and following these exemptions, Wall Street showed gains on Monday. The Dow Jones and S&P 500 both ended around point-eight percent higher than the previous session, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq rose more than point-six percent. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

Washington says trade talks with S. Korea scheduled for next week

Washington says trade talks with S. Korea scheduled for next week

2025/04/15 20:00

Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min. South Korea and the U.S. are expected to hold trade talks next week, as the Trump administration prioritizes negotiations with certain countries while its trade policy continues adding much confusion. Our Shin Se-byuck has more. Trade negotiations between South Korea and the U.S. could take place next week. That's according to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, on Monday during an interview with Bloomberg TV. Bessent said that the U.S. held talks with Vietnam last week, with Japan scheduled for Wednesday, and South Korea penciled in for "next week," and added negotiations will proceed quickly. The Wall Street Journal reported on 월요일 that the Trump administration is prioritizing negotiations with five countries, namely South Korea, the United Kingdom, Australia, India and Japan. Meanwhile, Seoul's trade minister, Ahn Duk-geun, could visit the U.S. as early as next week for negotiations with Washington. Acting President Han Duck-soo on Monday announced plans to dispatch a delegation to the U.S., led by the Trade Minister, to launch negotiations with Washington. Minister Ahn previously visited the U.S. in February and March following the launch of the Trump administration to convey Seoul's stance on Washington's tariff plans. One expert says South Korea should consider increasing imports from the U.S. to help narrow its trade surplus, a move that could serve as a bargaining chip in the talks. "Seoul needs to increase its imports from the U.S. — such as energy, agricultural, and livestock products — to help narrow its trade surplus with Washington, so that, in turn, it can secure tariff reductions on crucial items like automobiles." He also added that Seoul could ease non-tariff barriers on relatively low-volume goods, such as meat and produce, in exchange for concessions in sectors that account for a larger share of South Korean exports. Shin Se-byuck, Arirang News.

[Weather] Typical warm spring weather comes back, be careful of strong winds

[Weather] Typical warm spring weather comes back, be careful of strong winds

2025/04/15 20:00

Unlike the cloudy weather yesterday, the skies stayed clear today. With warm westerly winds blowing from this afternoon, the daytime temperature in Seoul rose to 14 degrees Celsius, about 4 degrees below the average. Tomorrow, the temperature will rise further, and it will move back to typical warm spring conditions. Seoul will be as warm as 23 degrees during the day, about 9 degrees higher than today. Even though rain clouds have moved away, strong winds are blowing across the country today. For the time being, there will be a moment when gusty winds of more than 15 meters per second blow nationwide. Please take extra precautions in advance. Tomorrow morning, Seoul and Daejeon will start off at 6 degrees, Daegu at 5 degrees. Daily highs will move up to 22 degrees in Chuncheon, 26 degrees in Daegu and Gyeongju. More rain is forecast in Gyeonggi-do Province and southern parts of Gangwon-do Province on Thursday. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

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