News

Korean-American astronaut Jonny Kim begins first space mission

2025/04/09 17:00

NASA astronaut Jonny Kim has landed at the International Space Station becoming the first Korean-American to travel to space. According to NASA Kim flew aboard a Russian spacecraft which reached the ISS at around 7:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time on Tuesday. Kim and two Russian cosmonauts will stay at the station for about eight months conducting research and testing new technologies. Kim is also a U.S. Navy officer and Harvard-trained doctor.

Russia “welcomes” U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, ratifies treaty to upgrade relations with Iran

2025/04/09 17:00

Come Saturday this week over in Oman officials from the U.S. and Iran will launch talks over the latter's nuclear weapons. Lee Seung-jae covers this much-anticipated event and more. The United States and Iran will sit down for nuclear talks in Oman on Saturday. Tuesday's announcement comes a day after U.S. President Donald Trump warned that Iran could be in great danger if the nuclear negotiations do not go well. "He has said there will be direct talks with Iran on Saturday. You can strike a deal with the president, you can negotiate or there will be hell to pay. And as the president said yesterday, if they don't choose to move forward with diplomacy and a deal, which is the direction we do see them headed in, there will be grave consequences to pay." Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said a nuclear deal is possible as long as the U.S. is willing, while he dismissed the Libyan model, which would mean the full dismantling of Iran's nuclear program, mentioned by Israel. Russia welcomed the news of the upcoming talks, and expressed its willingness to provide assistance. According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday, Moscow supports resolving the Iranian nuclear issue through political and diplomatic means. The remarks by the Kremlin also comes as Russia's lower-house, the State Duma, on Tuesday ratified a 20-year strategic partnership treaty with Iran, elevating their bilateral relations. The treaty which was signed by the leaders of Russia and Iran in January, strengthens political, military and economic cooperation between the two countries. One of the key provisions commits Moscow and Tehran to counter shared security threats, exchange intelligence and refrain from helping an aggressor if either country is attacked. However, unlike the treaty Russia signed with North Korea in October 2024, Iran did not include a clause allowing the deployment of troops to support military operations. Meanwhile, Russia also announced a separate expert-level talks with China and Iran on nuclear issues took place in Moscow on Tuesday. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

ADB projects S. Korea's 2025 economic growth at 1.5%, down 0.5% from December forecast

2025/04/09 17:00

The South Korean economy is projected to grow 1-point-5 percent this year. This is according to the Asian Development Bank in its latest projection which is lower than the two-percent growth forecast made back in December. The bank cited a host of internal and external factors as reasons behind its downward revision. Domestically high interest rates household debt and political uncertainty were underscored as risk factors while internationally uncertainty over global demand weighed on the bank's outlook for South Korea. Pundits meanwhile believe a further cut in growth forecast may be possible as this recent report by the bank did NOT take into account U.S. tariffs on Korean exports.

Tariffs fear rocks local markets, won-dollar exchange rate surpassing 1,487 won at one point

2025/04/09 17:00

Local financial markets were quick to respond to the start of U.S. tariffs. The benchmark KOSPI closed at 2-thousand-2-hundred-93-point-7 on this Wednesday down 1-point-7 percent from its previous session. This is the first time in 17 months that the KOSPI has dropped below the 2-thousand-300 level. Also on this Wednesday the Korean currency weakened further against the U.S. dollar trading at 1-thousand-4-hundred-84-point-1 won per greenback the highest close since the global financial crisis in March 2009. At one point during trade today the foreign exchange rate touched 1-thousand-4-hundred-87 won against the U.S. dollar.

Negotiations already launched as reciprocal tariffs come into effect on Wednesday

2025/04/09 17:00

And country-specific U.S. tariffs are in effect as we speak and the "top team" on trade from South Korea that Mr. Trump earlier mentioned is in Washington D.C. for negotiation rather than retaliation which is the case for China. Kim Bo-kyoung has more. Countries hit by tariffs have already launched negotiations with the U.S. as the steeper rates of reciprocal tariffs for what Trump calls the "worst offenders" were officially imposed on Wednesday. South Korea, which saw a 25-percent reciprocal tariff imposed as of 1PM Wednesday local time, began its talks as well. Along with Acting President Han Duck-soo's phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, Seoul's trade minister Cheong In-kyo arrived at Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, for talks with the U.S. Trade Representative. Cheong said Korea has two major projects it could bring to the table. "The Alaska LNG project is an important part, and shipbuilding, where discussions are already ongoing between the two countries is an area the U.S. is particularly interested in so it will likely be brought to the negotiating table for discussions." While saying his goal is to completely eliminate mutual tariffs, Cheong said Korea will aim to reduce the tariffs gradually if elimination is difficult. Such talks come as the U.S. is prioritizing its key allies --South Korea and Japan, in holding trade negotiations. Among dozens of countries facing high reciprocal tariffs, Kevin Hassett, Chairman of the White House National Economic Council, said in an interview with local media on Tuesday that Seoul and Tokyo are the highest priorities, citing them as major trading partners and allies with large trade surpluses with the United States. Meanwhile, China now needs to deal with Washington's huge one-hundred-four-percent tariff across all Chinese imports. China was already set to see tariffs increase by 34-percent on Wednesday, following two rounds of ten-percent levies. The rate shot up again as Beijing did not back down on its decision to impose 34-percent retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods by noon on Tuesday. "Countries like China, who have chosen to retaliate and try to double down on their mistreatment of American workers, are making a mistake. President Trump has a spine of steel and he will not break and America will not break under his leadership." Regarding the massive tariff on China, Trump at the National Republican Congressional Committee President's Dinner on Tuesday, said though it might seem outrageous, China has imposed tariffs of one-hundred or one-hundred-25-percent on many American items. He then said China would at some point, negotiate. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

Employment in Mar. up by 193,000; sharp decline in construction and manufacturing

2025/04/09 17:00

Meanwhile the Korean labor market is holding steady with employment expanding yet again in March growing by almost 200-thousand on year BUT that expansion remains uneven. Our Moon Ji-young explains. South Korea’s job market saw robust growth in March, but challenges persist, particularly in the construction and manufacturing sectors, along with youth employment. According to Statistics Korea’s employment report released on Wednesday, the number of employed people aged 15 or older reached almost 28-point-6 million in March, marking a year-on-year increase of 193-thousand. This gain marks the third consecutive month of growth. By industry, the health and social welfare sector led the job gains, followed by public administration, defense, and social security, as well as the finance field. However, construction saw the largest year-on-year drop in jobs since data collection began in 2013, marking a continuous decline for eleven consecutive months. The manufacturing sector also recorded its most significant decline since November 2020, reflecting a ninth straight month of falls in employment. Some experts forecast that manufacturing, the backbone of the domestic economy, could see a further decline in jobs this year, as export growth slows due to a potential trade war triggered by U.S. tariffs. "Due to the shock from tariffs, our product exports may decline, leading to a faster reduction in job opportunities. Since most of what we sell consists of manufactured goods, this could result in a reduction of decent jobs in the sector." By age group, employment for those aged 60 years and older primarily led the job growth, adding 365-thousand year-on-year. In contrast, the number of employed individuals aged 15 to 29 dropped by 206-thousand. The employment rate for young adults stood at 44.5 percent, marking the lowest monthly record for any March since 2021. With this latest data, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok expressed concerns regarding sluggish job growth, particularly in export-driven industries such as manufacturing, during an economic officials' meeting on Wednesday. To address the volatility in the trade market, the government has committed to a supplementary budget of 10 trillion won, or roughly 6.7 billion dollars. Moon Ji-young, Arirang News.

S. Korea announces US$ 1.3 bil. support package for auto industry amid U.S. tariff pressures

2025/04/09 20:00

Also here at home. The government has framed out a support package for South Korea's auto industry as it seeks to ease the impact of U.S. tariffs on car imports that kicked in on April 3rd and on car parts to go into effect by May 3rd. Shin Se-byuck has details. South Korea will funnel an additional 2 trillion won, or 1-point-3 billion U.S. dollars, into the auto and parts industry amid pressure from the 25 percent tariff imposed by the Trump administration. "We'll provide 2 trillion won in special policy financing for affected firms and offer low-interest loans and supporting corporate bond issuance worth around 1 trillion won in cooperation with major companies and financial institutions." The announcement was made during an economy-related ministers' meeting on Wednesday, which addressed responses to shifting trade conditions, including U.S. tariffs and global supply chain changes. As a result, policy financing for the auto sector will increase from 13 trillion won to 15 trillion won,.. worth around 10-point-1 billion dollars this year. This came as the U.S. is a key market for Korea's auto industry, accounting for 34-point-7 billion dollars, or nearly half of the country's total auto exports which was worth 70-point-8 billion dollars last year. With Washington's 25 percent tariffs in place, Korea's auto exports to the U.S. are projected to drop by nearly 19 percent this year. One expert says the financial package may serve as a short-term buffer, but a different approach is needed for a long-term solution. "To fundamentally address the issue, the government needs to focus on boosting productivity, developing new technologies, and easing labor-management tensions." Aside from the aid package, the government will also extend its EV subsidy program, tied to manufacturer discounts to boost domestic sales,.. from the first half of the year through to the end of 2025. It will also support efforts to tap into new markets, particularly in the Global South, as part of its push to diversify auto exports. Plans include the early implementation of free trade agreements with countries including the UAE and Ecuador, and the resumption of FTA talks with Mexico to help open up new export destinations. The government is also accelerating efforts to diversify export markets, focusing on key industries most vulnerable to trade disruptions. It plans to inject over 40 million U.S. dollars worth of support for overseas operations of small and mid-sized firms, while expanding R&D funding to boost technological competitiveness. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok said the government will soon unveil 6-point-7 billion dollars worth of supplementary budget to boost industrial competitiveness and tackle global trade shifts, calling for swift parliamentary support. Shin Se-byuck, Arirang News.

COUNTRY-TAILORED TRUMP TARIFFS KICK IN

2025/04/09 17:30

Welcome to Press Perspective for this Wednesday April 9th here in Seoul. I'm Min Sunhee. The art of the deal for South Korea is negotiation over retaliation in response to Mr. Trump's country-tailored tariffs that are in effect today. For more I have Ruy Valdes with Spanish news agency EFE Spain. Ruy welcome back. I also have Professor Kim Yong-jin at Sogang University joining our session virtually. Professor Kim it's a pleasure as always. #1) Ruy, acting President Han Duck-soo and U.S. President Donald Trump spoke on the phone Tuesday evening to mark the first leader-level talks between Seoul and Washington since the start of the second Trump term. #2) Professor Kim, speaking in an interview with CNN, acting President Han spoke of negotiation rather than retaliation with regard to Trump tariffs, and he also played down prospects of a trilateral economic response including South Korea, Japan and China to U.S. import duties. 3-1) Ruy, the South Korean stock market tumbled at the start of this workweek, triggering a circuit breaker for five minutes during early morning trade on Monday. 3-2) Ruy, the 25-percent tariff on CAR imports into the U.S. market went into effect on APRIL 3rd, and the same tariff on CAR PART imports is expected to take effect by MAY 3rd. 4) Professor Kim, foreign automakers are responding to U.S. tariffs on car imports with layoffs as well as halts in exports to the American market. 5) Ruy, Trump tariffs are also being condemned among the public in the U.S. 6) Ruy, some pundits believe the Trump administration's tariff campaign will not last long. 7) Professor Kim, speaking within your capacity as a scholar, what are your prospects with regard to Mr. Trump's tariff policy? 8) Ruy, the so-called reciprocal tariffs kick in on this Wednesday, with South Korea facing a hefty import duty of 25 percent. 9) Professor Kim, some of the economic priorities for Korea, as we speak, are reviving domestic consumption and responding to U.S. tariffs.

K-wave AI News

2025/04/09 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. Korea's renowned Pianist Cho Seong-jin will hold a solo recital this June marking the 10th anniversary of his historic win at the Chopin Competition. The recital, set for June 15 at the Seongnam Arts Center Concert Hall, will feature a program spanning classical, romantic, and contemporary works, offering audiences a deeper look into Cho's artistic evolution. After winning first prize at the 2015 International Chopin Piano Competition, Cho continues to perform actively on the world stage, currently serving as artist-in-residence with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Korean professional baseball has surpassed the one million attendance mark in just 60 games—the fastest pace in its history. According to the KBO, nearly one million and sixty thousand fans attended games in person in the first 60 matches since the season opened on March 22, setting a new record for the fewest games to reach one million spectators. If the current momentum continues, the 720-game regular season is projected to draw more than 12 million fans. Riding a wave of growing popularity, Korean pro baseball made history last season as the first domestic sports league to attract over 10 million spectators in a single season. Hot spring tourism in Korea is making a strong comeback after a sharp decline during the COVID-19 pandemic. With more people combining spring flower outings with hot spring visits, the number of visitors to hot spring regions nationwide exceeded 58.4 million last year, up 24% from 2023. During the height of the pandemic in 2021, the figure had dropped to below 35 million. Starting this Friday, a series of festivals will kick off at major hot spring destinations, such as Chungju and Asan in the Chungcheong region, and Changnyeong in Gyeongsangnam-do Province. That's all from me. Keep it tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[K-Correspondent] K-streetfood 'bunsik' making waves in streets of the Netherlands

2025/04/09 14:00

'Bunsik' refers to typical Korean street food such as tteokbokki, kimbap, sundae and tuigim. The word 'bunsik' literally translates into “food made of flour”, although not all bunsik is flour-based. Today, we want to hear about the growing interest in K-bunsik in Europe, more specifically the Netherlands, where Korean restaurants are rapidly increasing. We now connect to our K-correspondent Patrick Park, co-founder of Seoulfood Amsterdam. Hello Patrick! Q1. Patrick, please introduce yourself (and your restaurant) to our viewers. Q2. Korean food has been gaining popularity in the Netherlands in recent years. I hear you can find a number of Korean restaurants in Amsterdam? How much do Dutch people like K-food? Q3. The Netherlands is the number two importer of Korean tteok (rice cake), just behind the U.S., probably on the back of the popularity of the spicy snack/dish tteokbokki. Tell us more about the K-bunsik trend there. Q4. What are other 'bunsik' favorites in the Netherlands and what do you think is the reason behind their popularity? Q5. I wonder whether traditional or typical Dutch foods go well with Korean food? Do you think Korean dishes could bring about change to the local palate? Q6. Have you developed any new menus or recipes to cater to local tastes or do you plan to add any new K-food items at your restaurant? Q.7 What are some introductory dishes you’d recommend for foreigners who are new to Korean food?

[K-enter] BLACKPINK World Tour, July 5, in Goyang

2025/04/09 14:00

Time for our K-enter news with Walter Lee, and Walter What's that I can hear? Is that "BLACKPINK in your area?" I think you might be right Soa! We've been waiting for it, we've been talking about it for ages and finally we have some confirmation on when the powerhouse K-pop girl group will be finally gracing the stage together again. On Tuesday, YG Entertainment revealed the tour poster for "BLACKPINK 2025 WORLD TOUR", announcing the performances scheduled for July 5 and 6 at the Goyang Sports Complex Main Stadium. BLACKPINK will become the first K-pop girl group to hold a solo concert there, which seats around 40,000. In addition, BLACKPINK is scheduled to continue the tour with stadium-level performances in a total of 10 cities across North America, Europe, and Japan, holding 18 shows in total. The first round of tickets go on sale on May 8, at 8 p.m KST. I am sure tickets will sell like hotcakes! Moving on to some baby news? Walter, this is an entertainment segment, I know you love sharing stories about your baby ..Not this time Soa, though yes I do have a very cute baby who should get her own segment on this show. But I am talking about actress Kim Min-hee and director Hong Sang-soo and their baby son who they recently welcomed into the world according to reports on Wednesday. Back in early 2025, news emerged that Kim was expecting a child with director Hong and was due to give birth in the spring. This news came about after Kim Min-hee was spotted at Incheon Airport appearing pregnant, and she was accompanied by Hong at the time. And now full confirmation has been made public. Moving over to K-theatre, where a hallyu legend is making her return. Tell us more. Hallyu legend, Lee Young-ae , who gained worldwide fame through the 2003 K-drama "Jewel in the Palace" or Dae Jang Geum in Korean, will return to the theatre stage for the first time in 32 years with the play "Hedda Gabler." On Tuesday, LG Arts Center held a press conference for "Hedda Gabler," marking the theatre's 25th anniversary. At the event, Lee Young-ae shared that she had always held a special place in her heart for theatre since performing in her 20s. "Hedda Gabler" was written by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen in 1890. It is acclaimed for its delicate portrayal of a woman’s inner struggle and longing for freedom in the face of society's oppression. Lee will take on the lead role of Hedda, a complex character who appears elegant on the outside but harbours hidden anxiety and a destructive nature. "Hedda Gabler" is scheduled to run from May 7 to June 8. Yes, a true hallyu legend indeed and it is great to see her back doing what she loves. Finally we move over to a Netflix reality show! On Tuesday, a press conference for Netflix's new variety show "KIAN'S BIZARRE B&B" was held in Myeong-dong, Seoul, where producers introduced the program. "KIAN'S BIZARRE B&B" is a unique and unpredictable guesthouse variety show set at “Kianjang” on Ulleungdo Island a place full of unusual charm where Kian84 , Jin of BTS, 그리고 Korean variety show "Running man" star Ji Ye-eun interact with guests of the B&B. One producer said, “Ji Ye-eun is the true spirit of the MZ generation. Jin, has a very human charm, but I felt that only a tenth of that has been shown to the public." Thee show premiered on Tuesday, with three episodes released each week over three weeks.

[Features reporter] Ghibli-style AI-generated portrait boom; new wave in art scene?

2025/04/09 14:00

Kun-woo, I remember you said you've been stuck choosing your new profile picture. What's making it such a tough decision? Well, it's because I've been up to turning myself into all sorts of adorable animated characters using generative AI, so choosing just one has been tough. I'm pretty sure you've seen a lot of your friends doing the same, changing their pictures to AI-generated characters, especially in the popular Ghibli style, as it's been quite the trend lately. But before I tell you more, let's take a look at how this trend is unfolding. Social media is buzzing with Studio Ghibli-style portraits -not of actual characters but of real people transformed using generative AI. The global trend has also reached South Korea after OpenAI CEO Sam Altman posted his own version last month, showing how ChatGPT can now create intricate images with just simple prompts. "Whenever I open social media, it's flooded with these Ghibli-style images. A lot of my friends have tried them, some even shared their wedding photos in that style." Since the launch of the new image-generation tool in late March, over 700 million images were created, in just the first week. "This is my original photo, and I asked to be turned into a Ghibli character—and boom, two minutes later, here I am. And it's not just this but you can also turn into characters like Pororo or Marvel heroes. No wonder it’s gone viral." As the craze spreads, Sam Altman even joked on social media that "our GPUs are melting." However, the trend has also had backlash. A Japanese animation director known for "One Piece" expressed strong distaste, saying the trend is tarnishing the Ghibli brand. And Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki previously condemned AI-generated work as "an insult to life itself" adding that he would never use it in his pieces. Copyright concerns are also fueling the controversy. "Art styles and aesthetics are considered ideas, so the case is hard to judge whether it's violating copyrights. The issue is whether an AI company trained its model on works in the Ghibli style." She added that because this is a legal grey area with not much precedent, international and social consensus will be crucial moving forward. Despite the controversy, some believe this could be a new turning point in the culture and art scene. "The art world faces what's called "Baumol's cost disease" -rising labor costs without matching productivity. And hand-drawn animation is extremely labor-intensive. Ghibli, for example, hasn't released a new film since 2014. But AI could ease that burden and enable new creations while preserving the original identity." She also said that with proper consensus, AI-generated art could evolve into a new cultural movement, perhaps even gaining long-term value, much like Van Gogh's paintings did posthumously. And considering that, a tiny Ghibli-style AI portrait might just be the spark, redrawing the entire canvas of modern art. And Kun-woo since you mentioned that AI art could be reshaping the art world, can you tell us more about that? Of course. What we're seeing on social media is not just limited to Ghibli-style portraits but also other artworks created by so-called "AI artists." For those unfamiliar with them, one of the artists I spoke to explained how they create their art pieces. "With my own philosophy, I apply several prompts and combine generated images to make them my own. That's why it isn't that different from traditional art work, just the tools that we use are different. And it's not just an image generated in one-go, it takes several attempts and a lot of trial and error." She added that it could take hundreds of instances of "retouching" in order to create a unique artwork. Her goal is to build a new art scene where artists collaborate with AI as their tool, instead of brushes that artists would have usually used and said it will be able to make art even more valuable. Kun-woo, while AI-generated images are difficult to define as copyright infringement for now, I heard there are still some related cases that could lead to legal consequences. That's right. Recently, as AI-generated portraits have grown in popularity, some people have tried selling them or offering to create them for others on secondhand market platforms to 중고시장 플랫폼에서 판매하거나 다른 사람들을 위해 제작을 제공하여 이익을 얻으려고 시도했습니다. One lawyer I spoke to said in such cases, it could be punishable by law. "Although AI-generated portraits may not qualify as copyrighted work now—since they aren't considered creations that reflect human thoughts or emotions—profiting from them could still be problematic under the Unfair Competition Prevention Act, as it could be seen as commercially exploiting someone else’s achievements." So to recap, while simply creating or changing your image with AI seems fine for now, trying to make profit from it could lead to serious legal trouble. Thank you Kun-woo.

S. Korean, U.S. leaders hint at "win-win" deal in 1st phone call since Trump took office

2025/04/09 10:00

As South Korea's political uncertainty subsides after former President Yoon Suk Yeol's dismissal last Friday, and with Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo in full command of the nation's foreign affairs, the first leader-level talks with the U.S. took place on Tuesday. We have our Oh Soo-young who's at the Prime Minister's Office at the Sejong Government Complex. Q1. Good morning Sooyoung. The two leaders held quite a lengthy phone call, didn't they? Let's go over the highlights. Sure, Dami. According to the Acting President's office, Han and Trump held a 28-minute conversation, marking the first top-level talks between Seoul and Washington. The call also came around 16 hours ahead of Trump's 25 percent reciprocal tariffs targeting South Korea, that could significantly impact its export-driven industries. That's on top of the 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminium levied last month. Han's office said the two leaders agreed to continue ministerial-level dialogue on economic cooperation on issues including the allies' trade balance. As such, Han underscored South Korea's willingness to deepen cooperation in three key sectors: shipbuilding, liquefied natural gas, and addressing the trade imbalance. On the security front, Han called for stronger unity on North Korea, stressing that the allies' resolve for denuclearization must outweigh Pyongyang's ambitions. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to South Korea-U.S. military alliance and agreed to closely coordinate North Korea policy, while also advancing trilateral cooperation with Japan. 2. Of course, the phone call was full 의례적인 부분도 있었겠지만, 행간을 읽어보면 무역 긴장 속에서 두 정상이 전달하려던 메시지는 무엇이라고 생각하십니까? It seems both leaders could be angling for a deal. In an interview with CNN hours before the phone call, Acting President Han Duck-soo called for a win-win deal with President Trump—saying Seoul has no intention of retaliating against U.S. tariffs, unlike China and Japan. He proposed what he called a "cool negotiation," expressing confidence that the friends and allies could reach a "mutually beneficial deal" that might prompt Washington to recalibrate its trade policies. President Trump took to his social media Truth Social, describing what he called a "great phone call" with Han. He said they discussed South Korea's "tremendous and unsustainable trade surplus," as well as tariffs, LNG deals, a joint Alaska pipeline venture, and the cost of stationing U.S. troops on the Korean Peninsula. Trump claimed South Korea began paying "billions" in contributions towards military costs during his first term but that the deal was terminated by "Sleepy Joe Biden." However, this doesn't align with facts. A new defense cost-sharing agreement was reached last October, under the Biden government, under which South Korea will increase its contribution by 8.3 percent starting in 2026, with yearly increases based on the inflationary growth, marking a significant financial commitment by Seoul. Despite the sticking points, the U.S President said there is "room and potential for a great deal" that could benefit both countries. He expressed his preference for "one-stop shopping," which refers to bundling trade, defense, and industrial cooperation into a single, comprehensive deal. Trump further noted that their trade officials are to engage in talks, noting that South Korea's "top team" was coming to Washington, referring to Seoul's Trade Minister Cheong In-kyo meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer during his two-day trip to D.C. After the call, several high-ranking officials including National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said Trump gave orders to "prioritize" reciprocal tariff negotiations with allies such as Korea and Japan. Alright, let's see what happens over in Washington. Thanks for your coverage Sooyoung.

[Weather] Afternoon rain in store from the west, dusty rain in the capital area

2025/04/09 10:00

Spring is really in the air now, even the morning chill is easing up. Meanwhile, a dry weather advisory has been expanded to more regions. But today's nationwide rain will help ease those dry conditions. Rain will begin later this afternoon in the western parts of Korea, gradually spreading to the rest of the country by tonight, continuing in some areas through tomorrow afternoon. Further south will see heavier rainfall with up to 40 millimeters in the forecast for Jeju. Heads up for those in the western regions, yellow dust from the Gobi Desert may mix in with the rain this afternoon. Checking on today's highs now, Seoul and Chuncheon will get up to 18 degrees. Those in the Gyeongsang-do provinces won't need an umbrella during the day unless planning to stay out late. Weekend rain is in the forecast which will bring down the highs to just 9 degrees in the capital on Sunday. But for today, be sure to keep an umbrella and a face mask if you are in the west!

Zelenskyy says Chinese nationals captured fighting for Russia in Ukraine

2025/04/09 10:00

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Tuesday, local time, that Ukrainian forces have captured two Chinese nationals fighting alongside the Russian army in the eastern part of the country. Zelenskyy stated that intelligence suggests more Chinese individuals are present in Russian military units. He directed Ukraine's foreign minister to engage with Beijing to seek clarification on this matter, but has not heard from the Chinese government yet. The development raises questions about China's role in the conflict, given its previously declared stance for peace.

At least 66 dead in a roof collapse at a nightclub in the Dominican Republic, including governor

2025/04/09 10:00

In the Dominican Republic's capital city Santo Domingo, at least 66 people died and over 150 were injured after the roof of a nightclub collapsed during a live performance. In the early hours of Tuesday, local time, the roof of the Jet Set nightclub collapsed during a concert by merengue singer Rubby Perez, with hundreds of people inside when the incident occurred. Among the deceased are Nelsy Cruz, the governor of Monte Cristi province, and the sister of former MLB player Nelson Cruz, as well as former Major League Baseball pitcher Octavio Dotel. Rubby Perez sustained injuries but is reported to be in stable condition. While investigations are underway to determine the cause of the collapse, the country's president expressed his condolences and assured all resources are being deployed for ongoing rescue efforts.

UN chief calls Gaza a 'killing field', condemning Israel for aid blockade

2025/04/09 10:00

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has described Gaza as a "killing field," following urgent appeals from UN agencies for immediate action to ensure the delivery of food and aid to Palestinians in Gaza. On Tuesday, the UN chief addressed the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, calling the area a "killing field" where civilians face extreme suffering. He emphasized the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, and humanitarian access to the enclave. Guterres also rejected an Israeli proposal to control aid deliveries into Gaza, saying it could potentially restrict humanitarian support "down to the last calorie and grain of flour." The heads of six UN agencies issued a joint appeal to world leaders calling for urgent action to facilitate the delivery of food and aid to Gaza's residents, who have been without supplies since March 2.

Korean government bonds' inclusion in the 'WGBI advanced group' delayed

2025/04/09 10:00

South Korea's inclusion in the World Government Bond Index, which was originally scheduled for November, has been delayed to April next year. That means the benefits of being included in the WGBI, including reduction in government bond procurement costs, will also be delayed. While some pundits say the delay reflects investors' concerns about the political instability in the country, the government said it's due to Japan's request for an improvement in the investment environment, and nothing to do with the political situation. The South Korean government projects at least 56 billion dollars would flow into the country's national bond market once it's included in the WGBI.

S. Korea sees three consecutive months of job growth; decline in construction and manufacturing

2025/04/09 10:00

South Korea added nearly 200,000 jobs in March compared to the previous year, marking the third consecutive month of job growth. According to Statistics Korea on Wednesday the health and social welfare sector gains, followed by the public administration, defense, and social security sector, as well as the finance sector. However, construction jobs fell by 185,000 year on year, while manufacturing jobs declined by 112,000. By age group, individuals aged 60 and older experienced a year-on-year surge in employment, whereas those aged 15 to 29 saw a decline.

Possible largest N. Korean-made new naval guided missile frigate spotted: Beyond Parallel

2025/04/09 10:00

What could possibly be the largest North Korean-manufactured warship, a new naval guided missile frigate, has been spotted at the Nampo Navy Shipyard. According to the U.S. think tank, the Center for Strategic and International Studies' affiliated website Beyond Parallel, the warship is undergoing a "fitting out" process, in which equipment is installed and supplies are loaded before it is handed over to the navy. The frigate is approximately 140 meters long, making it the largest warship made in the North, and is assumed to be the vessel leader Kim Jong-un visited in early March this year.