News

Acting President Han pledges to stick to "final mission" of resolving tariff troubles amid presidency run speculation

2025/04/14 17:00

Acting President Han Duck-soo has called his commitment to navigating the nation through tough tariff talks with the Trump administration his "final mission" Chairing a Cabinet meeting earlier on this Monday Han emphasized turning the crisis into an opportunity by leveraging his extensive trade experience to protect national interests and enhance Korea's global competitiveness. These remarks come amid much speculation about a potential bid by Han for the presidential election on June third. He has neither confirmed nor denied his intention to run. He has instead called on the parliament for prompt action on pending bills aimed at stabilizing livelihoods and spurring economic growth. In this regard he stressed the need to swiftly pass the Semiconductor Special Act as well as measures to help protect small businesses affected by delayed payments.

Employment for late 20s in S. Korea sees biggest drop in 12 years

2025/04/14 17:00

The number of employed Koreans in their late 20s has retreated to its lowest level in 12 years. Data shared by Statistics Korea on this Monday show some 2-point-4 million Koreans between the ages of 25 and 29 were employed in the first quarter of this year DOWN 98-thousand on year. The agency is linking the drop to declines in manufacturing and construction jobs. Moreover this latest drop is not only the deepest since 2013 but also continues a nine-quarter run of on-year employment slumps for people.. in this age group.

Rebounds in chip, display shipments lead to ICT exports growth in March, reaching US$ 20.6 bil.

2025/04/14 17:00

Exports of Korean ICT products expanded almost 10 percent on year in March led by chips and display panels. Moon Ji-young has the latest numbers. Rebounds in chip and display sales led to an increase in South Korea's tech exports last month, according to data released by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on Monday. ICT exports in March reached almost 20-point-6 billion dollars, up 9-point 4 percent compared to the same month the previous year. Month-on-month data shows that tech exports surged by 24 percent, while the trade balance saw an increase of a whopping 48 percent during the same period. Exports of major tech items, such as chips, displays, cell phones and computers, have all risen together for the first time in eight months. Semiconductor exports increased by nearly 12 percent year-on-year, driven by rising demand for high-value memory chips, such as High Bandwidth Memory and Double Data Rate 5. This growth is attributed to expanded investments in AI servers and a reduction in companies' memory inventories. The display sector rebounded by one-point-three percent after eight months, thanks to the launch of new mobile phones. Experts and officials from the Trade Ministry attribute these rebounds to preemptive measures taken by leading companies to secure their inventories in anticipation of reciprocal tariffs imposed by the U.S. "Certainly, after the announcement of the tariffs imposition, there was a trend where companies tried to pull forward their shipments for the following month, and the month after that, before tariffs were increased." Exports of mobile phones soared by nearly 15 percent while computers jumped over 28 percent, both showing double-digit growth. By country, shipments to the U.S., Vietnam, and Japan performed strongly last month, driven by robust demand for chips. In contrast, exports to China, South Korea's top export destination, fell by over 12 percent due to decreased demand for chips and computers. There was also a drop in exports to Europe. Meanwhile, ICT imports totaled over 12-point-2 billion dollars, resulting in a positive ICT trade balance. Moon Ji-young, Arirang News.

Seoul says copper import restrictions will disrupt S. Korean investment in U.S.

2025/04/14 17:00

The government here is requesting that the Trump administration re-consider its restrictions on copper imports from South Korea. The request follows the launch of an investigation by the U.S. Commerce Department to assess the national security implications of U.S. imports of copper and copper derivative products. In response the Trade Ministry here has pointed out that South Korean copper products have contributed favorably to the American economy. The ministry also stressed that U.S. tariffs on copper imports would simply serve to raise prices and disrupt the current stability of the supply chain.

Trump clarifies there's no full "tariff exception" on electronics from China

2025/04/14 17:00

U.S. tariff exemptions on electronic devices are temporary in nature and a separate set of tariffs will be in place for semiconductors and smartphones in the near future. Lee Seung-jae has our top story. U.S. President Donald Trump and his key trade officials on Sunday made it clear that his administration's newly announced exemptions for reciprocal tariffs on electronic products would be partially or completely reversed in the coming weeks. After a technical guidance issued late Friday, Washington issued an exemption on select electronics, such as smartphones, laptops, personal computers, servers, and semiconductor equipment. Not only does this ease the burden on Samsung Electronics and Apple, it also means a possible exemption from some of the levies on Chinese imports. However,.. Trump took to his social media page on Sunday to clarify, saying tariffs would still be imposed on Chinese goods, specifically the existing 20 percent fentanyl tariffs. Trump also stressed that the U.S. administration is taking a look at semiconductors and the "WHOLE ELECTRONICS SUPPLY CHAIN" in upcoming National Security Tariff investigations. According to U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, while there may be some tariff exemptions on select electronics now, a separate tariff on semiconductors is coming. "So what he's doing is he's saying they're exempt from the reciprocal tariffs, but they're included in the semiconductor tariffs, which are coming in probably a month or two. So these are coming soon." Speaking to CNN on Sunday, White House National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett said that items subject to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act have always been excluded from the reciprocal tariffs, and a separate investigation will be conducted to determine the necessary measures to protect the United States. He added that the tariff investigation into semiconductors has to do with broader concerns of U.S. dependence on Chinese-made imports. Hassett said that there is a "very uncomfortable amount of Chinese input" in U.S. weapons systems, stressing the importance of Section 232 of the Act. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

[Weather] Spring rain and snow through tomorrow dawn, rise in highs

2025/04/14 17:00

It certainly felt like the rewind button on the seasons was hit! Winter made a surprise comeback over the weekend with gusty winds. There has been more rain nationwide today, which could linger into tomorrow dawn, snow for mountainous regions in Gangwon-do. Highs were 5 to 10 degrees Celsius lower than norms today, but as the weather clears up tomorrow, daytime highs will return to near average. But you will need a light winter jacket for the morning commute. Seoul starts off at 4 degrees Celsius, Gwangju and Daegu at 5 degrees under brighter skies. Highs will jump to the mid-teens in most parts at 16 degrees in the capital and Daejeon, Daegu and Busan at 17 degrees with decent air quality. Then things will get much warmer heading into the weekend. That's Korea for you. Here's a look at the international weather conditions.

Winter makes unexpected return as Seoul sees snow in April for first time in 81 years

2025/04/14 17:00

In other news. For the first time in over 80 years Capital Seoul recorded snowfall in mid-April as winter made an unexpected call. Bae Eun-ji has more. Snow piled up on flowers and trees, as South Korea experienced unseasonably cold mid-April weather. Over 10 centimeters of snow accumulated in parts of Gangwon-do Province on Sunday. Light snow and hail also fell in the capital area, as it went through an unusual spring chill. Snow of up to 0-point-6 centimeters was recorded in central Seoul, between Saturday night and Sunday morning, making it the first time in 81 years that the city saw snow in April. This is mainly because of cold arctic air passing through the Korean peninsula. The weather turned turbulent as the lingering cold air from above clashed with a mild spring breeze on the ground, causing gusty winds and hail. Strong winds battered the country over the weekend, leading to widespread damage. In Jeju, the winds damaged roofs and toppled trees. In Busan, winds of up to 30 meters per second brought down signboards and caused power outages. Also in the capital area, at Incheon airport, a tug vehicle crashed into an aircraft on the ground, leading to flight delays. The national weather service says strong winds and falling temperatures are forecast for the coming days. "Damage from strong winds is expected until Monday, and temperatures will start to go up from Wednesday. We're expecting to see temperatures return to normal starting late this week." Rain or snow is expected across the country until Tuesday before spring warmth returns later this week. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.

Unit commanders additionally booked over charges related to accidental bombing in Pocheon

2025/04/14 17:00

The accidental bombing of a residential area in Pocheon city last month was indeed owing to negligence. According to findings of an interim investigation by the Defense Ministry released on this Monday the two pilots entered the wrong target coordinates. They also dropped the bombs without visually verifying the target NOR did the training follow the planned flight path for the live fire drill. Along with these two pilots unit commanders have been additionally booked for lax supervision. The ministry is seeking disciplinary action against nine officials who belatedly reported the case and will issue a warning against the Air Force's operations commander holding him accountable for command responsibility and insufficient reporting.

U.S. designation of S. Korea as 'sensitive country' to go into effect on Apr. 15

2025/04/14 17:00

The U.S. Energy Department's designation of South Korea as a "sensitive country" goes into effect tomorrow that is Tuesday. While the designation does NOT set new restrictions it does mandate internal reviews before joint programs or actual visits to listed countries. Accordingly pundits fear the designation will hinder collaboration between Seoul and Washington in areas such as nuclear energy and artificial intelligence. The Korean government had not been notified of the designation by Washington in advance although the decision had been made under the Biden administration.

U.S.-Iran nuclear talks set to resume amid pitfalls after "constructive" first round

2025/04/14 17:00

Over in Oman this past Saturday. Officials from the U.S. and Iran addressed the latter's nuclear weapons ambitions with more talks scheduled for this coming weekend. Our Park Kun-woo reports. Nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran are set to resume this weekend, but with potential pitfalls ahead, including the agenda and format. The first round that took place Saturday in Oman was participated in by U.S. and Iranian diplomats and conducted "indirectly" through Oman's mediation, marking the highest-level meeting between the two nations since 2018. After the talks ended, the two sides spoke for a few minutes face-to-face. On Sunday, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called the talks "constructive," but also said the U.S. continues to seek a diplomatic resolution to Iran's nuclear program. And he added that the U.S. military stands ready "to go deep and big" if talks fail. U.S. President Donald Trump also commented. "We'll be making a decision on Iran very quickly." That came after Trump said the day before that things were "going okay." Iran on Sunday also described the first round of talks with the U.S. as "productive," but maintained its stance of keeping the agenda and format the same amid remaining tensions. "What is clear at this stage is that the negotiations are indirect and, from our perspective, are solely about the nuclear issue and with the necessary will to reach an agreement based on equality." That comes as the U.S. is reportedly looking to broaden the agenda to include Iran's ballistic missile program and its support for the "axis of resistance" -a network of militant groups opposed to Israel. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

Israeli strike hits hospital in Gaza City

2025/04/14 17:00

In the Middle East. An Israeli airstrike hit one of the last remaining fully operational medical center in Gaza City. In the wee hours of Sunday local time Israeli missiles struck the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital reportedly destroying the emergency room outpatient clinic and pharmacy. Other buildings within its vicinity including a church were also damaged. The Israeli military claims the strike targeted a Hamas command center operating within the hospital.

K-wave AI News

2025/04/14 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. The 2025 Osaka-Kansai World Expo has kicked off, marking the start of its six-month journey. The Korean pavilion was unveiled on Sunday, boasting the largest scale among all international pavilions. It features three distinct exhibition zones designed to bridge tradition and modernity, people and technology, and Korea and the world. A striking media facade showcases Korea's cultural heritage alongside AI-powered media art, K-pop artist visuals, and more. The Nihon Keizai Shimbun newspaper named the Korean pavilion one of the event's "noteworthy exhibition halls." The night sky over the Hangang River will once again be illuminated with a spectacular light display this year as Seoul City presents the 2025 Hangang Drone Light Show at Ttukseom Hangang Park from April 19 to May 25. This year's drone show will return with 200 additional drones, bringing the total to 1,200, adorning the sky with a breathtaking light display. Various cultural performances, including magic shows and Taekwondo demonstrations, will entertain spectators before and after the main event. On opening night, a special performance featuring 2,000 drones will take place, portraying drones that transcend the boundaries of time and space. A solo exhibition by Ron Mueck, the acclaimed Australian sculptor known for his hyperrealistic, large-scale human figures, is now open at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul. Marking his first solo show in Asia, the retrospective features ten major works from across his 30-year career. Highlights include "Mask II," a self-portrait roughly four times life-size, "In Bed," a larger-than-life sculpture that draws viewers into the subject's emotional state, and "Mass," a haunting installation that adapts to each exhibition space. Exploring themes of life, death, and the human condition, the exhibition runs through July 13. That's all from me. Keep it tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[Kulture Issue] The "featuring effect" in the global K-pop industry

2025/04/14 14:00

It went from "Some" by Soyou and Junggigo featuring Lil Boi of Geeks or Zico's "Soulmate" featuring IU to BTS's "Idol" featuring Nicki Minaj and JENNIE's "Handlebars" featuring Dua Lipa. It's not that sensational anymore to have global super stars collaborate with K-pop stars, as Korean artists are now too the global stars. Today, we want to delve into the "featuring effect" and K-pop's influence in the global music market. For that, we are now on the line with Stephanie Choi, postdoctoral researcher at the Asia Research Institute at State University of New York at Buffalo. Hello Stephanie / Dr. Choi! Q1. We see more and more vibrant collaborations between K-pop artists and foreign artists in the music scene compared to the past. Please tell us about this trend. Q2. Having well-known pop stars featured in K-pop songs seemed like a strategy to expand overseas, (or is it still?) but nowadays that doesn’t seem to be the priority. What do you say? Is it a more “natural” thing to see these international collaborations? Q3. (We reported on this on our program just recently) BTS’s Jungkook, with his solo single “Seven” featuring American rapper Latto, has been ranked number one on the “Best K-Pop and Rap Collaborations of All Time” by Complex magazine. Why do you think the song gained so much love? Q4. So, seeing the success of these partnerships, how are they benefitting the K-pop industry? Q5. I think there are benefits for both sides. Let’s take the BLACKPINK members as an example. LISA feat. Doja Cat & RAYE (Born Again), JENNIE feat. Dua Lipa (Handlebars), and of course ROSE feat. Bruno Mars (APT.) have all made it onto the Billboard charts. Big names in the western pop world are probably welcoming these collaborations and also make the first move for them? Q6. It also seems like featuring for a song goes beyond singing a few lines, it’s about producing music together and mixing styles. Is it fair to say that we are seeing a deeper cooperation in the way songs are featured? Q7. What are the prospects of these collaborations, or what could be done better in the future?

[K-Enter] Lisa kills it at Coachella

2025/04/14 14:00

Time for our daily dose of K-enter news with Walter Lee. Let's start with some news on the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Coachella, the largest music festival in the U.S. is underway and on Friday local time, BLACKPINK's Lisa was the first to represent the K-pop genre, performing at the Sahara Stage. Lisa performed tracks from her solo collection such as "Thunder", "Rockstar", "New Woman" and "Lalisa". Lisa’s performance received praise for her costume changes and choreography. She is set to perform again on the 18th. And on Saturday, boy group ENHYPEN became the first K-pop boy group to perform at the world famous music festival. ENHYPEN were backed by a live band and delivered a total of 13 songs. They will return on the 19th for the second performance. I believe BLACKPINK's Jennie also performed only a couple of hours ago as well, so I look forward to hearing how she went. Let's stay on the topic of K-pop and move on to some news on boy group ATEEZ . If you live in North America and didn’t get a chance to grab tickets to ATEEZ's 2025 WORLD TOUR 'IN YOUR FANTASY', well, you may be in luck, as on Saturday, ATEEZ's agency KQ Entertainment announced additional North American stops for their upcoming tour. The Orlando concert, originally scheduled for July 22, has added an additional show on the 21st, making it a two-day event. The Los Angeles concert, initially set for August 8, will also be held over two days with an additional show on the 9th. ATEEZ will now perform a total of 14 shows across 12 cities including New York, Orlando, Chicago, San Jose, Los Angeles, and Mexico City. The 2025 WORLD TOUR is set to kick off on July 5 and 6 at Inspire Arena in Yeongjongdo , Incheon. Great news for the fans and it must feel great for ATEEZ to feel the love from their North American fans. Lastly let's finish off with a K-movie, that's already showing its popularity before it's out? Yes, "Yadang: The Snitch" has topped the overall reservation rankings ahead of its release on April 16. On Monday, the film announced that it had maintained the number one spot in overall ticket reservations for three consecutive days since reaching the top on the Saturday. Starring Kang Ha-neul , Yoo Hae-jin , and Park Hae-joon , "Yadang: The Snitch" is a crime action film that follows a broker who runs South Korea’s drug trade, an ambitious, power-hungry prosecutor, and a detective who puts everything on the line to crack down on drug crimes. Again, "Yadang: The Snitch" is set to be released on April 16.

Winter makes unexpected return as Seoul sees snow in April for first time in 81 years

2025/04/14 10:00

Winter has made an unexpected return to South Korea, as Seoul experienced mid-April snow for the first time in over 8 decades over the weekend. The cold weather is expected to last for a few more days. Bae Eun-ji reports. Snow piled up on flowers and trees, as South Korea experienced unseasonably cold mid-April weather. Over 10 centimeters of snow accumulated in parts of Gangwon-do Province on Sunday. Light snow and hail also fell in the capital area, as it went through an unusual spring chill. Snow of up to 0-point-6 centimeters was recorded in central Seoul, between Saturday night and Sunday morning, making it the first time in 81 years that the city saw snow in April. This is mainly because of cold arctic air passing through the Korean peninsula. The weather turned turbulent as the lingering cold air from above clashed with a mild spring breeze on the ground, causing gusty winds and hail. Strong winds battered the country over the weekend, leading to widespread damage. In Jeju, the winds damaged roofs and toppled trees. In Busan, winds of up to 30 meters per second brought down signboards and caused power outages. Also in the capital area, at Incheon airport, a tug vehicle crashed into an aircraft on the ground, leading to flight delays. The national weather service says strong winds and falling temperatures are forecast for the coming days. "Damage from strong winds is expected until Monday, and temperatures will start to go up from Wednesday. We're expecting to see temperatures return to normal starting late this week." Rain or snow is expected across the country until Tuesday before spring warmth returns later this week. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.

Meet the artist who's putting Korea on the map

2025/04/14 10:00

We often hear about how Korean culture is putting Korea on the map. But here is a story of an illustrator who's quite literally putting Korea on a map. Our culture correspondent Song Yoo-jin tells us more. You know Gwanghwamun Gate, but you've never seen it quite like this. This is how UK-based map artist Jenni Sparks reimagined one of Seoul's most iconic landmarks. For over a decade, her hand-drawn maps have covered major cities across the West, such as London, New York, Paris, and Berlin. Now, she's turning her creative compass toward Asia, starting with Seoul. "The traditional architecture is extremely different from all the cities that I've done before. I think, also like the actual geography of the place, it's got like it's very like mountainous, including actually in like the middle of the city." This idea sparked when Seol Jae-woo, who runs a local tour business in Seoul, reached out to Sparks a few years ago. "Maps are usually seen as just information, useful in the moment but often forgotten after. Jenni Sparks' map, however, felt like a work of art. So I thought, what if we could create a map people would treasure, one that tells a story of the place they live?" That question led to Sparks creating a map of Seoul's Seochon neighborhood before setting her sights on the entire city. It's halfway done, but already, you can see what makes her maps so unique. It's not just the pop art-style design or the bold use of color but the sheer level of detail, including hidden gems like Tongin Market in Jongno-gu District. That insight comes from her rigorous research, her first and most important step, through books and videos. She then sketches out the bones of the city, rivers, mountains, parks, and metro lines before layering in Seoul's soul. "I will usually ask people from that city and say, 'Is this right?' or 'Take a look at this.' Is there anything you're like, 'This is absolutely wrong, like no, what you've forgotten this building is this is a really famous cafe, this is a really famous restaurant.' And then right at the end, it's just kind of just drawing like lots of residential buildings." It's a challenging process that takes months, but the map, in the end, becomes something more than directions. It becomes a story, one you can hold in your hands and revisit. Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News.

On-point: What kind of leader does S. Korea want & need?

2025/04/14 10:00

South Korea is officially on the hunt for a new president after the Constitutional Court's dismissal of now former President Yoon Suk Yeol. What kind of leader do the South Korean people want, and what kind of leadership does the country need? Let's turn to Professor Mason Richey. Good morning. 1. A new poll says the number one task for a new president, according to the South Korean people, is economic recovery and vitalization. Why the economy? 2. The number 2 job to work on is, according to the poll, national integration and conflict resolution. What kind of national integration and conflict resolution do the people want? Is this something that politicians should solve? 3. The president that the people want is a leader who can revitalize the economy What are the qualities, abilities, and virtues that the people and the Republic of Korea need in the next president? A person who does not lose the trust of the people? 4. We are now seeing some prominent figures jump into the election race. Starting with the Democratic Party of Korea. What are some of the tasks and challenges the DP must overcome in order to win the election? 5. How should the People Power Party recover from the impeachment ruling, and what position should it have in the presidential election? What could be a dilemma for the People Power Party candidates? Thanks so much for sharing your insight with us. We appreciate it.

Trump clarifies there's no full "tariff exception" on electronics from China

2025/04/14 10:00

U.S. President Donald Trump has settled the debate over tariffs on select electronics, saying exemption of tariffs on those items are temporary and that separate tariffs on goods including smartphones will be unveiled in the coming weeks. Lee Seung-jae starts us off. U.S. President Donald Trump and his key trade officials on Sunday made it clear that his administration's newly announced exemptions for reciprocal tariffs on electronic products would be partially or completely reversed in the coming weeks. After a technical guidance issued late Friday, Washington issued an exemption on select electronics, such as smartphones, laptops, personal computers, servers, and semiconductor equipment. Not only does this ease the burden on Samsung Electronics and Apple, it also means a possible exemption from some of the levies on Chinese imports. However,.. Trump took to his social media page on Sunday to clarify, saying tariffs would still be imposed on Chinese goods, specifically the existing 20 percent fentanyl tariffs. Trump also stressed that the U.S. administration is taking a look at semiconductors and the "WHOLE ELECTRONICS SUPPLY CHAIN" in upcoming National Security Tariff investigations. According to U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, while there may be some tariff exemptions on select electronics now, a separate tariff on semiconductors is coming. "So what he's doing is he's saying they're exempt from the reciprocal tariffs, but they're included in the semiconductor tariffs, which are coming in probably a month or two. So these are coming soon." Speaking to CNN on Sunday, White House National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett said that items subject to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act have always been excluded from the reciprocal tariffs, and a separate investigation will be conducted to determine the necessary measures to protect the United States. He added that the tariff investigation into semiconductors has to do with broader concerns of U.S. dependence on Chinese-made imports. Hassett said that there is a "very uncomfortable amount of Chinese input" in U.S. weapons systems, stressing the importance of Section 232 of the Act. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

[Weather] More rain and snow nationwide with snow advisory in Gangwon-do

2025/04/14 10:00

It looks like Mother Nature has a bit more of a blustery story for us today. We're expecting more rain and even some snow across the country. If you're heading out, grab that umbrella and warmer jacket! The rainfall will be between 5 and 20 millimeters throughout the day. Meanwhile, most of the inland areas could expect to see 1 to 5 centimeters, but the mountainous regions in Gangwon-do could see up to 8 centimeters with a heavy snow advisory in place. And it's not just the rain and snow – the wind is really picking up too. If you're planning on flying or taking a ferry, make sure to check the latest travel information. It's definitely feeling much colder out there. We're only expecting highs of around 10 degrees in Seoul, 12 degrees in Gwangju. Looking ahead, we should see the cold air move out, with temperatures returning to more typical spring levels starting on Wednesday. But for today, that chilly wind will make it feel even colder, so please bundle up warmly!

Bangkok celebrates Thai New Year with Songkran splash

2025/04/14 10:00

Finally, Bangkok has officially kicked off the 2025 Songkran Festival, Thailand's traditional New Year celebration, known for major water fights. The festival, which runs from April 13 to 16 and involves the world's biggest water fight, symbolizes renewal and cleansing. Participants engage in spirited water battles across the city during the period. Key locations such as Silom Road, Khao San Road, and Siam Square have become epicenters of activity, and an 8% increase in foreign visitors during the celebration week is anticipated. The festival marks the end of the dry season and the start of a new agricultural cycle.