News

[Features-reporter] Korea Heritage Service to designate "temple food" as intangible national heritage

2025/03/31 14:00

Monastic meals in temple cuisine, widely known as "temple food" embody Buddhist philosophy by preserving the natural flavors of ingredients. This unique food culture may receive more recognition as the Korea Heritage Service has announced its plan to designate "temple food" as a new intangible national heritage. Lee Eun-jin tells us more. Each temple has its own variation of dishes for what makes up "temple food." But one common foundation across all temples is that they share a vegetarian foundation that not only excludes meat and fish, but also five pungent vegetables: garlic, green onions, chives, leeks, and asafetida. Buddhist culinary traditions not only include food but also the balwoogongyang, a formal way of eating in Buddhist practice. Adhering to the Buddhist principle of non-violence and respect for life, hence not killing any living being, Korean temple food is particularly distinguished for using unique fermented ingredients, which perhaps sets it apart from similar temple food traditions in other countries. "Temple food has the natural clean and original flavors." "It's traditional food. It's light and easier to digest. I think that's why it's loved. And since it is traditional Korean food, wouldn't people want to experience it?" This healthy and natural well-being cuisine is being designated as an intangible national heritage. The Korea Heritage Service nominated the great value of temple food that contributes to cultural diversity by adding creativity to traditional meal preparation methods. However, because the recipes that have been passed down vary from temple to temple, and because it is a tradition that is collectively transmitted rather than through specific individuals or organizations, there won't be an official holder of the tradition. The designation will be finalized after a 30-day review period and deliberation by the Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee. After its recognition as a national intangible heritage, the Buddhist community plans to promote temple food onto the UNESCO World Intangible Heritage list. And for this, there will be a temple food festival held in June, and temple food will be prepared for participants of the APEC Summit to experience in October, in Gyeongju. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

[K-Enter] IZM selects BTS, PSY, IU, as artists who lit up K-pop in the 21st century

2025/03/31 14:00

Alright, let's then kick off with our daily dose of K-enter news with you Walter and that K-pop news you just mentioned is about BTS's Jungkook , what do you have for us? Jungkook's single "Seven" topped the list of '15 Best K-pop and Rap Collaborations of All Time', released by the American pop culture magazine 'Complex' on Friday. Complex said on their website (quote), "Jungkook's powerful vocals deliver desire in a way that's digestible and witty," and that the song's collaborator Latto (quote) "delivers a high-energy, flirtatious verse that's technically impressive for a summertime hit." In total five BTS solo and group songs made it onto the list. J-Hope's "on the street" ranked 4th and "LV Bag" ranked 14th, BTS's "Butter" remix ranked 8th, and RM's "Change" ranked 11th. Best K-pop and Rap Collab of all time? It seems so early to be using phrases such as "of all time" but another media outlet has done something similar. Though we are only in the very early stages of the 21st century, one webzine has already named their most influential K-pop artists of this century. Who made the list? The music webzine IZM announced on Friday that it had conducted a survey of 31 critics and producers to select 25 musicians who have been influential in K-pop over the past 25 years, from 2000 to last year. The selected musicians include top groups like BTS, BLACKPINK, BIGBANG, 2NE1, Wonder Girls, Girls' Generation, solo singers like IU, BoA and Park Hyo-shin, bands like YB and hip hop acts like Epik High, Dynamic Duo and Beenzino. Notably when it comes to BTS, popular music critic Im Jin-mo described the group by saying, "K-pop has become a common noun thanks to BTS's immense achievements. Since then, various attempts in K-pop, in terms of visuals, sounds, and sensations, have orbited around them." Quite the list and happy to see a variety of genres such as band music, hip hop, ballad, plus "older" idol groups. What do you have for us next Walter? Actor Kim Soo-hyun, who has been embroiled in controversy over accusations of dating the late actress Kim Sae-ron when she was underage, is due to hold an urgent press conference today (Monday Korea time) at 4:30pm according to Kim's agency, Gold Medalist. Kim Soo-hyun and legal representatives, however, are set to only release a statement without taking any questions. This will be the first time that Kim Soo-hyun has spoken directly on the matter since the dating rumours surfaced on a YouTube channel on March 10. Kim's agency initially denied the claims as false but later revised its stance, stating that their relationship began after she became an adult following a series of allegations. Meanwhile, Kim Sae-ron's family has continued to demand the truth, releasing social media conversations that they claim is evidence of their relationship during her minor years. Keep us updated on the developing story. And finally we have a new K-pop concert movie for fans to look forward to. The film "ZEROBASEONE THE FIRST TOUR 'TIMELESS WORLD' IN CINEMAS", featuring live footage from ZEROBASEONE's world tour, is set to connect with global fans. The movie has been confirmed for screenings in 51 regions, with some limited screenings already released. "TIMELESS WORLD IN CINEMAS" captures the emotional journey of ZEROBASEONE's first world tour, which attracted a total audience of 140,000. Meanwhile, ZEROBASEONE is set to hold a fan concert at KSPO DOME in Seoul from April 18 to April 20. Additionally, on April 4, they will release the physical album of their fifth mini-album, 'BLUE PARADISE', in the U.S. Thanks for that news Walter. Now let's take a look at what our AI anchor Ari has for us today. Ari, take it away.

Richard Chamberlain, TV actor who starred in 'Dr. Kildare,' dies at 90

2025/03/31 10:00

Finally, in the United States, renowned actor Richard Chamberlain, celebrated for his roles in "Dr. Kildare" and the award-winning miniseries "The Thorn Birds," died at the age of 90 on Saturday local time. Chamberlain died in Hawaii due to complications following a stroke. A three-time Golden Globe winner, he first gained fame in the 1960s after starring in "Dr. Kildare," which made him a teen idol. Beyond television, Chamberlain appeared in films such as the Oscar-winning movie "The Towering Inferno," and "The Three Musketeers." His lifelong partner, Martin Rabbett, paid tribute, expressing, "Our beloved Richard is with the angels now."

German startup's space rocket crashes seconds after takeoff from Norway

2025/03/31 10:00

Over in Europe, a space rocket launched by German startup Isar Aerospace on Sunday local time crashed approximately 40 seconds after takeoff from a spaceport in Norway. The uncrewed Spectrum rocket, 28 meters long, was designed to carry small and medium-sized satellites and marked Europe's first attempt at an orbital flight from the continent, excluding Russia. Despite the outcome, Isar Aerospace's CEO said the test was a "great success," citing the collection of valuable data for future missions. The attempt reflects Europe's ambition to establish independent space launch capabilities.

Hamas agrees to ceasefire proposal from mediators Egypt, Qatar

2025/03/31 10:00

Moving over to the Middle East Hamas has accepted a new ceasefire proposal mediated by Egypt and Qatar. However, Israel has responded with a counteroffer. Hamas chief Khalil al-Hayya announced on Saturday that the Palestinian militant group has agreed to a ceasefire proposal from Egypt and Qatar, which includes the release of five hostages. In return, Israel would permit increased humanitarian aid into Gaza and a halt to hostilities. The deal also includes the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners by Israel. Israel has submitted a counter-proposal demanding the release of 11 living hostages and half of the deceased hostages in exchange for a 40-day ceasefire. Meanwhile, Israel is seeing large protests urging the government to prioritize negotiations for the hostages' release.

Greenland's new PM says U.S. will not get Greenland

2025/03/31 10:00

Good morning, I'm Choi Chi-hee, and this is The World Now. Greenland's new Prime Minister, sworn in on Friday, firmly rejected U.S. President Donald Trump's renewed interest in acquiring the Arctic territory, emphasizing Greenland's autonomy and self-determination. On Sunday local time, Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen responded to President Trump's push to acquire Greenland. In a social media post, Nielsen stated, "Let me be clear: The United States will not get it. We do not belong to anyone else. We decide our own future." President Trump on Friday once again expressed confidence in the U.S. acquiring Greenland, describing it as "100%" certain and citing national security interests. Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President JD Vance's recent visit to Greenland's U.S. military base further raised tensions as Vance criticized Denmark's administration of Greenland, implying that the U.S. could offer better security and governance.

S. Korea fully lifts short-selling ban on Monday

2025/03/31 10:00

South Korea fully lifted its ban on short-selling on Monday. Short-selling is now allowed for all listed firms for the first time since March 2020, when the ban was introduced due to the market crash caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The ban was partially lifted in May 2021, but temporarily reimposed in November 2023 after a series of naked short-selling violations by global investment banks were discovered. Ahead of the resumption of short-selling, the Korea Exchange has set a new system to detect any illegal practices.

Trump threatens tariffs on Russian oil over Ukraine

2025/03/31 10:00

U.S. President Donald Trump warned he will impose secondary tariffs on Russian oil, if Moscow does not agree to a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine. Speaking to NBC on Sunday, Trump warned that if Russia does not agree to the ceasefire, he will put secondary tariffs "on all oil coming out of Russia." He added that the 25 percent tariffs could happen at any moment. Trump also said that he plans to speak with Putin later this week. The U.S. president also told NBC News that he was very angry after Russian President Vladimir Putin questioned the credibility of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's leadership.

Court rumored to be wrapping up ruling on Pres. Yoon's impeachment

2025/03/31 10:00

President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment case has continued for more than three months, as justices take a record amount of time to deliberate on the embattled leader's fate. But pundits believe the Court is in the last phase of reviewing the case. Oh Soo-young reports. The Constitutional Court could issue a ruling in President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial this week, as deliberations are believed to have reached the final stage. According to legal experts familiar with the matter, the eight-member bench is now wrapping up its review of key grounds for Yoon's impeachment, after more than a month of almost-daily meetings the longest the Court has ever deliberated on a presidential case. Once each justice expresses their opinion, they're expected to draw up their collective decision, before announcing the ruling date two to three days in advance. While it could be as early as this Thursday, if the bench schedules a Friday ruling in line with past presidential impeachments, April 4th and 11th are key dates to watch. But given the record deliberation period, observers say the verdict could take longer to be issued, as the justices may be sharply split in their opinions on whether or not President Yoon's martial law declaration warrants an impeachment. The Court needs at least six votes to remove a President. If three or more justices are against impeachment Yoon would be restored to office. At this point, April 18th is broadly considered the deadline for the bench the date Justices Moon Hyung-bae and Lee Mi-son retire. In 2017, the Court dismissed President Park Geun-hye on a Friday, before Acting Chief Justice Lee Jung-mi stepped down the next Monday. But this time around, the two vacancies would leave only six justices on the bench, below the seven-member threshold required to deliver a ruling. Meanwhile, political tensions are escalating, following the recent acquittal of opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung in one of his five criminal trials. As Lee currently leads polls for presidential hopefuls, the ruling People Power Party fears an early election could benefit the opposition leader, and is pushing the Court to dismiss or reject Yoon's impeachment. On the other side, the DP is hardening its stance. Some lawmakers call for another motion to impeach Acting President Han Duck-soo, despite the Constitutional Court's dismissal of their previous attempt, along with Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok. Other DP members are demanding the urgent appointment of a left-leaning judge, Ma Eun-hyeok, to secure a six-vote majority to impeach the President. As for public opinion, support for the two major parties are split evenly at 36 percent, with moderates caught between both political extremes: Yoon's immediate return or the opposition party's continued offensives against the incumbent government. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

S. Korea’s economy sees 'triple plus' with gains in production, consumption, investment

2025/03/31 10:00

South Korea's economy rebounded in February, with production, consumption, and investment all increasing compared to the previous month. According to Statistics Korea on Monday, the overall industrial output saw an increase of point-6 percent compared to the month before, largely due to gains in the service and service and mining industries. The construction industry returned to an upward trend for the first time in seven months. Retail consumption was up 1.5%, and facility investment jumped by a huge 18.7%. An official from Statistics Korea attributed the overall increase to a base effect resulting from a decline in the previous month, caused by fewer working days due to a long Lunar New Year holiday.

S. Korea, China and Japan reaffirm trade cooperation ahead of U.S. reciprocal tariffs

2025/03/31 10:00

The Trump administration's reckless tariff policies have made the importance of regional economic cooperation more than ever. And ahead of Trump's looming April 2nd tariffs, trade ministers of Seoul, Tokyo, and Beijing met up in Seoul. Our Moon Hye-ryeon has the details. The trade ministers of South Korea, China, and Japan met in Seoul for the first time in nearly six years and underscored the need for stronger economic ties and pledged to expand trade partnerships amid growing global uncertainties. At the Trilateral Economic and Trade Ministers' Meeting on Sunday, South Korea's Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun, China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, and Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Muto Yoji emphasized the importance of a stable global trade system and vowed to strengthen cooperation in key economic sectors. Their discussions came just days before the U.S. government's scheduled announcement of new reciprocal tariffs as the three nations navigate rising protectionist pressures. The meeting was seen as a strategic move to coordinate a response with all three nations facing similar concerns as major U.S. trade deficit partners and potential targets of tariffs. And, as a result, the ministers aligned on the broader goal of preserving a stable international trade system. During the talks, the ministers reaffirmed their commitment to multilateral trade frameworks, supporting reforms at the World Trade Organization and expanding the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership to include new members. They also pledged to accelerate negotiations for a high-level trilateral Free Trade Agreement. "It is necessary to strengthen the implementation of RCEP, in which all three countries have participated, and to create a framework for expanding trade cooperation among the three countries through Korea-China-Japan FTA negotiations." While South Korea and China currently have an FTA in place, discussions on a three-way agreement have stalled due to differing economic conditions and national priorities. Beyond trade agreements, the ministers addressed broader economic concerns, committing to stabilizing supply chains and expanding cooperation in green and digital industries. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

Earthquake kills more than 1,700 people in Myanmar; search and rescue operations continue

2025/03/31 10:00

In Myanmar now. Rescue workers are continuing their search for survivors after a major earthquake with a death toll above 10-thousand expected. WHO is responding with its highest level of emergency response. Shin Ha-young reports. The 7-point-7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday, causing widespread damage. According to Myanmar's military, the quake struck the country's central region on Friday, killing over 1-thousand-700 people and injuring more than 3-thousand-400 as of Sunday. With a lack of equipment and personnel, rescuers have been working with their bare hands in an effort to find survivors. "We were able to rescue a man aged around 24 from the rubble. It took us 24 hours for this operation to save this man. He had been stuck under the rubble for about 40 hours." Damage has also been reported in neighboring Thailand, where authorities said at least 18 people had been killed and at least 78 missing, as search and rescue operations continue. And with the death toll in the region rising quickly, the United States Geological Survey estimates a 71 percent probability that the number of fatalities will exceed 10-thousand. In response to the earthquake, international organizations are emphasizing the need for urgent aid. According to AFP, the World Health Organization on Sunday declared the earthquake a top-level emergency and urgently requested 8 million U.S. dollars to save lives and prevent disease outbreaks over the next 30 days. Meanwhile, Myanmar's military junta is continuing airstrikes in the war-torn country with attacks on "insurgents" despite the earthquake. According to the BBC, at least seven people were killed in a strike just hours after the earthquake on Friday, with further attacks taking place over the weekend. The UN has called the attacks "completely outrageous and unacceptable." Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

Main blaze in massive wildfire in Sancheong contained after nearly 10 days

2025/03/31 10:00

It took almost 10 days, but the main blaze in Sancheong County has been finally contained. South Korea's worst wildfires in history resulted in at least 30 deaths. Lee Seung-jae leads us this morning. The massive wildfire that began in Sancheong County in Gyeongsangnam-do Province and spread through nearby regions, causing the worst wildfires in South Korea's history has been fully contained. According to forestry officials, the main fires were contained as of 1 PM Sunday, nearly 10 days after the initial blaze broke out on March 21. "There were dangerous situations due to falling rocks and rocky terrain, but it seems they overcame it well and prevented further spread of fires." The wildfires in regions of the Gyeongsangnam-do Province, saw an estimated 1-thousand-858 hectares of woodland burnt, equivalent to around 26-hundred football fields. The fires in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province saw about 48-thousand hectares of woodland affected, equivalent to 80 percent of the size of Seoul. At least 30 people died, including 26 in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. More than three thousand houses were completely burned down, and significant damage was also reported to 30 national heritage sites and 2-thousand agricultural facilities. In order to extinguish the remaining fires, the military deployed 600 soldiers and 49 helicopters on Sunday, and is also providing medical and other assistance. The government will now focus on helping those that have been affected by the massive wildfires. This includes providing temporary housing and other assistance for those who have been displaced. Also, the government will provide livelihood support, including lowering fees for health insurance premiums, and costs for cell phone and internet and medical aid. Since the outbreak of the wildfires, approximately 10-thousand volunteers have participated in recovery and support for the displaced. The government also announced on Sunday that it will push for a supplementary budget worth ten trillion won, or 6-point-8 billion U.S. dollars, which would also include budget for wildfire recovery. Some 37 million dollars were also donated to disaster relief organizations in the hope that victims and the areas affected by the wildfires can recover quickly. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

[Weather] Cold snap eases this afternoon, high risk of fire

2025/03/31 10:00

We're starting off on a chilly note to wrap up March. Inland areas are feeling even chillier. However, temperatures will rise quickly this afternoon, bringing us back to seasonal norms in most places. The biggest concern today is the ongoing fire risk. The wildfire crisis alert level remains in the highest range nationwide. The air remains extremely dry, and strong westerly winds could make any small flame spread rapidly. We've already seen devastating wildfires in several regions, and with conditions like these, the risk remains dangerously high. Afternoon highs will be 2 to 8 degrees higher than yesterday, topping out at 14 degrees Celsius in Seoul, Gwangju and 15 degrees in Daegu under mostly sunny skies with decent air quality during the day. Welcome rain is in the forecast on Wednesday in the central region, Gyeongsangbuk-do and Jeollabuk-do provinces, which could help to ease dry conditions. For now, please stay alert, stay fire-safe, and take extra care outdoors.

Why DP leader's criminal court case matters as window for Constitutional Court verdict narrows

2025/03/29 12:00

This past week was a big one for politics in South Korea. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo made his return after the Constitutional Court rejected his impeachment following a motion made unilaterally by the main opposition three months ago. On top of that, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, leader Lee Jae-myung's appeals ruling came out. We have our political correspondent, Kim Do-yeon to tell us more. Hello, Do-yeon. 1. First, Lee Jae-myung was found not guilty by an appeals court, and this shook up the nation's political scene. What can you tell us about this? That's right Dami, let me begin with what happened in court. The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea leader Lee Jae-myung, was acquitted by an appeals court on election violation charges. The Seoul High Court on Wednesday overturned a ruling by a lower court, which had handed Lee a suspended prison term. Lee was indicted on charges of making false statements in December 2021 during a media interview where he denied knowing the late Kim Moon-ki, an executive involved in a development scandal in Seongnam City where Lee previously served as mayor. He is also accused of having made false claims that there was pressure from South Korea's land ministry to rezone a research institute site in the Baekhyeon-dong area. The appellate court ruled that neither of the statements made by Lee can be seen as spreading false information, overturning the Seoul Central District Court's ruling in November. Take a listen to Lee Jae-myung on what he described as a 'proper ruling.' "I appreciate the court for delivering a proper ruling based on truth and justice. But it's frustrating that so much effort and national resources were spent on something so obvious." 2. We do know he is a political heavyweight, 이재명 대표가 정치 거물이라는 것은 알고 있지만, 이번 판결의 시점도 중요합니다. Could you give us more context? That's right. This is important to note because Lee Jae-myung is the favored candidate to be the next president. And, as we all know, there could be an early presidential election that will kick off within a matter of weeks if the Constitutional Court upholds President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment. Take a look at this most recent survey. According to a Gallup survey on 1,000 adults aged over 18 from last Tuesday to Thursday, DP leader Lee Jae-myung was the most favored candidate for the next presidency at 34 percent, followed by Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo at 8 percent , and former PPP leader Han Dong-hoon at 5 percent. Remember this survey was taking place as the ruling came out.. So, maybe respondents on Thursday were able to answer this survey with that in mind. But next week, it'll be clearer whether voters who had doubts over Lee Jae-myung due to his ongoing legal battles will have changed their minds. 3. But he isn't completely off the hook from these accusations. What about the Supreme Court's decision? That's right, the case can be taken to the Supreme Court, which would be the final and definite ruling. Now, since prosecutors lost the case at the appeals court, they are the ones who will have to appeal the case. Lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party are already calling for prosecutors to do so. If there is an appeal and if the Supreme Court overturns the decision to acquit Lee Jae-myung, Lee will lose his legislative seat and be barred from running for public office for the next five years. Here's the thing the Supreme Court has three months to make a ruling if prosecutors do appeal. That means even if the Constitutional Court decides to uphold President Yoon's impeachment within the next couple weeks a presidential election would be just 60 days away. This means theoretically speaking, DP Chair Lee Jae-myung could be the president before the Supreme Court rules on his case anyway which would pause the legal process. Article 84 of South Korea’s Constitution states that the president shall not be charged with a criminal offense which basic during his tenure of office, barring insurrection or treason. And it's all up to the Supreme Court's decision. "Even if the prosecutors speed up the appeal process and Lee Jae-myung doesn't purposely delay the legal process, the final issue at hand would be the will of the Supreme Court" 4. So where does Lee Jae-myung's trial fit into the picture when it comes to President Yoon's impeachment? It's certainly unrelated, but surely there must be some effect. Dami, you're absolutely right this is a criminal trial and Yoon's impeachment is a Constitutional Court trial and we're looking at the two most influential politicians of the nation. Before the ruling, the ruling People Power Party had a bit of confidence in the trial of course because of the first result of Lee being guilty. Many of them had accused Lee of purposefully delaying the trial process so the final result comes out after the possible presidential election. Now, that message won't carry as much weight. But all in all, both parties are calling for the Constitutional Court to quickly announce the date of the verdict as the continued vacancy in the nation's presidency only prolongs uncertainties. 5. So when will there be the ruling, do we know? Dami, this is already the longest presidential impeachment trial in the nation's history. While many guessed that the decision was likely to come in March, that ship has sailed. Now, one thing to note is that two Constitutional Court justices will retire on April 18th leaving a bench with only 6 justices. Therefore, it's highly likely that the Court will rule before then. Now, if we consider the fact that all previous presidential impeachment decisions came on Fridays that means there's a chance of it happening on April 4th or 11th, but as we've seen anything is possible. That was our Kim Do-yeon. Thank you.

Yoon's prolonged impeachment verdict raises early election tension

2025/03/28 20:00

The Constitutional Court kept its silence on Friday, likely meaning the month of March will pass without the ruling on President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment case. Our correspondent Oh Soo-young explains what's at stake. Suspense remains over President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment case, as the Constitutional Court deliberates for more than a month. As of Friday, 31 days have passed since Yoon's final trial hearing was held marking a record in terms of time taken by the Court, compared to previous presidential impeachment cases, which took at most 14 days. As the judicial bench typically gives advance notice of at least two working days before a ruling, the Court is now expected to issue its decision in April before two justices retire mid-month. With ambiguity over the when and what the verdict will be, there's growing tension brewing in political circles, as Yoon's impeachment would spark an early Presidential Election within two months. The opposition party is pushing for Yoon's swift removal, as their party leader Lee Jae-myung, is currently the pollster's favorite among presidential hopefuls. On Wednesday, Lee was acquitted in one of his five criminal trials, overturning a ruling by a lower court last year that handed Lee a one-year sentence and a two-year suspension from office for violating the election law. This cleared a major hurdle to gaining his party's full endorsement for the race. The ruling People Power Party had been hoping for the opposite result, leading to cries of foul against the justice system. There's now even greater pressure directed at the Constitutional Court. The opposition is calling for Yoon's immediate impeachment while the ruling party is demanding his return to power as in the case of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, whose impeachment case was dismissed on Monday. Public rallies also continue outside and around the Court. Recent polls indicate that 51 percent of voters want a change of government, while 37 percent wish to maintain the current administration. Those for and against impeachment also recorded around 58 percent and 37 percent, respectively. Underscoring how closely contested the political environment remains, the survey shows equal 36 percent support for the ruling and opposition parties, with the PPP gaining three percentage points compared to the previous week. As the Court's ruling stretches on, expectation for Yoon's impeachment was down by six percentage points from last week, while those expecting his return, hit 39 percent. Amid prolonged uncertainty, one thing remains clear: this is not merely a constitutional decision but a ruling that will inevitably carry significant political ramifications. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

S. Korean Navy holds naval gunfire exercises this week marking 10th West Sea Defense Day

2025/03/28 20:00

In light of the somber anniversary today, South Korea's Navy carried out a series of drills this week. Our defense correspondent Kim Bo-kyoung covers this year's West Sea Defense Day. Amidst a thin sea fog covering the West Sea, a simulated North Korean vessel crosses the Northern Limit Line on the West Sea moving southward, South Korean navy ships and personnel are ordered to deploy in combat formation for training. "Total personnel in combat formation, training, two, three!" Six naval ships lined up one after another. with the 3-thousand-600-ton frigate, the ROKS Chungnam at the front, fired guns targeting their simulated maritime target before maneuvering away in different directions. "This naval maneuver training in the West Sea is to mark the 10th West Sea Defense Day a day to remember those who lost their lives in a series of unprovoked attacks by the North near the Northern Limit Line." The day, falling on the fourth Friday of March every year, pays tribute to the 55 fallen sailors and marines from the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong in 2002, the sinking of ROKS Cheonan and the shelling of Yeonpyeong-do Island in 2010. In memorial of the fallen, the Navy conducted intensive maneuvering exercises for three days until Thursday, simultaneously on the East, West, and South Seas with some of the exercises open to the press. "The Navy will engrave the spirit of victory shown by the 55 warriors who defended the West Sea in our hearts, and if the enemy provokes again, we will strike back forcefully and firmly protect our seas." Since the military clashes with North Korea while defending the western maritime border, the South Korean Navy strengthened the combat power of its naval fleets, replacing outdated warships with new frigates equipped with advanced hybrid propulsion and sonar systems. "The ROKS Daejeon was built with our domestic defense technology, and it is especially a core frigate of the fleet with outstanding anti-submarine capabilities." With the patriotic spirit of the fallen in mind, the Navy vows to firmly safeguard the waters, even today. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

Main fires of Gyeongsangbuk-do Province wildfires contained: Korea Forest Service

2025/03/28 20:00

The massive wildfires in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province have finally been put out. Authorities say the main fire, which started in Uiseong-gun county, is now extinguished. It's been a tough battle during the past seven days. Shin Ha-young has our top story. A week after wildfires broke out in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, authorities declared that the main blazes in the region were contained as improved visibility and cooler temperatures from overnight rain helped firefighters put out the main fires. The Korea Forest Service announced on Friday that the all main blazes in Andong City, Uiseong, Cheongsong, Yeongdeok, and Yeongyang-gun counties had been fully brought under control. "As of 5:00 PM on March 28, all the main fires in Uiseong, Andong, Cheongsong, and Yeongyang have been extinguished, starting with Yeongdeok at 2:30 PM." This comes after more than 5-thousand-500 personnel and 89 firefighting helicopters were deployed on Friday to fully contain the wildfire in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. By midday on Friday, the overall containment rate across the region had reached 94 percent, a 32-percentage-point increase from the previous afternoon. No additional casualties have been reported as of Friday evening. According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, as of 6AM, the wildfires had killed at least 28 and injured 37 others nationwide. The disaster has displaced around 33-thousand residents, with more than 8-thousand still unable to return home. Nearly 3-thousand-5-hundred structures were damaged. "I saw the flames approaching my house—everything was glowing red. I grabbed what I could and ran When I came back, it was all gone. The fire was still burning." The wildfire is the largest in South Korea’s history, burning approximately 4-hundred 80 square kilometers—nearly 80 percent the size of Seoul. With the main fires contained, the Korea Forest Service said efforts will now focus on extinguishing any remaining embers. It has also set the period until mid-May as the spring wildfire prevention and response period. It emphasized that, while the risk of more wildfires remains, it will stay vigilant and continue its full efforts to prevent and respond to them. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

[Weather] Chilly conditions this weekend, dry weather continues

2025/03/28 20:00

It felt much chillier this morning with Seoul plunging to just 3-point-7 degrees Celsius, which was about 10 degrees lower than yesterday morning. Temperatures will plummet further than usual this weekend with Seoul only rising to 8 degrees during the day. The dry weather warning, which was issued for the east coast of Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, has been relieved to an advisory, but the dry weather warnings and advisories are still in place in many regions. With strong wind advisories issued as well, please take extra precautions not to cause any fires. Tomorrow, Seoul, Gwangju and Gyeongju will start off at 1 degree and Daegu 3 degrees. Highs will move up to around 10 degrees across the country. There is rain or snow forecast with around 5 millimeters in Seoul, eastern parts of Gyeonggi-do Province, and western parts of Gangwon-do Province tomorrow afternoon. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

7.7 magnitude quake hits Myanmar and Thailand

2025/03/28 20:00

A seven-point-seven magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday, also causing damage in neighboring Thailand's capital city of Bangkok. At least 20 people were confirmed killed in Myanmar, and three in Thailand but the death toll is feared to rise into the hundreds. States of emergency have been declared in both countries. The United States Geological Survey said the quake had a shallow depth of about 6 miles. Tremors were also felt in China's Yunnan province.