News

[Weather] Mild weekend, but the air will be dusty

2025/02/14 20:00

With mild westerly wind blowing, the daytime temperature in Seoul rose up to 10 degrees Celsius today, making it as mild as mid-March. The weather will continue to be warmer than usual throughout the weekend. The temperature in Seoul will stay at nearly 10 degrees during the day, exceeding the average temperatures. Meanwhile, skies will be covered with dust again. Due to the influx of fine dust from overseas, the air will become dusty tonight for the Seoul metropolitan area and the Chungcheong-do provinces. The ultra-fine dust tomorrow will be at "bad" levels in most parts of the country. Tomorrow, Daejeon and Daegu will start off at minus 2 degrees, Seoul and Gwangju at zero degrees. Daily highs will top out at 9 degrees in Seoul and Gwangju, and 13 degrees in Gyeongju. From tomorrow morning to early Sunday morning, more rain is expected on the south coast and Jeju Island. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

[Arts & Culture] What happens when K-pop gets a classic makeover?

2025/02/14 20:00

Friday means it's time for our Arts and Culture segment. We're joined by our culture correspondent Song Yoo-jin in the studio. Welcome! Great to be here! What do you have for us today? There's a saying: 'Don't be afraid to try something new. It might just become the best thing you ever do.' And here in Korea, a concert taking place today and tomorrow is proof of that. Today, I have a sneak peek of a bold fusion of two very different musical worlds. Take a look. This 2007 hit by SM Entertainment's girl group Girls' Generation, "Into the New World," has jumped into a new world -the world of classical music. Since 2020, SM Entertainment and the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra have teamed up, with eight classical renditions of songs by artists such as SHINee, Red Velvet, and aespa. Now, they've brought the world's first-ever K-pop orchestra live concert to Seoul. "It's the first of a kind in that the entire setlist performed by the orchestra is K-pop songs. So we're very proud of that." Performing over a dozen K-pop songs, is a new experience for everyone, starting with arranging the music. The key was to keep the original while adding originality. "When arranging, we sample works by famous classical music composers. We looked for pieces that would blend well with the original K-pop track to stay true to the original and highlight the classical elements." Then, it was practice, practice, and more practice until every note hit the mark. "We watched the original performance videos and compared them to the sheet music. Our goal was to bring the lyrics, rhythms, melodies, and emotional depth of the K-pop tracks into our orchestral performance." Finding this new groove wasn't easy. The orchestra's associate concertmaster compares it to learning a new language. "Because we're so used to playing all the you know normal classics Beethoven, Mahler, Brahms you know, and then now you know all these K-pop songs, so it's been a little bit challenging in a way." But in the end, they discovered the beauty of crossing genres and unlocking new potential. "We're taking K-pop's flashy performance and transforming it into something you can appreciate with just your ears. We're not just playing melodies. We're reimagining K-pop as 21st-century orchestral music. Even if you're not familiar with the original songs, you'll find something to enjoy." Two genres, worlds apart, have come together to strike a chord, creating something groundbreaking, making classics trendy, and turning trends into timeless classics. It really sounds like the audience will get the best of both worlds. As you mentioned in your report, this concert is taking place today and tomorrow. Can you tell us a bit more about what the audience can expect? Of course! The first concert is happening right now. It started at 8 PM Korea time at the Seoul Arts Center, which is just about a 10-minute walk from our station. Tomorrow's concert will be held at Lotte Concert Hall in Seoul's Songpa-gu District, starting at 5 PM. Tickets are available both online and at the venue. SPO will be performing 16 to 17 songs by SM artists. What's notable is that SHINee's Minho will host both concerts and Red Velvet's Wendy will join the orchestra to perform her solo songs during Saturday's show. But for those who can't make it, is there any way they can still experience this collaboration? Luckily, there is. Last month, SM Classics released its first full album, "Across the World." It's available on major music platforms like Spotify, iTunes, and Apple Music. The album features 14 songs, including some that are being performed at these concerts. When asked which songs stood out, Conductor Kim mentioned aespa's "Black Mamba" and SHINee's "Sherlock," while the arrangers picked Red Velvet's "Feel My Rhythm." All three are on the album, and you can hear them live at the concerts as well. And there's more to come. This September, Seoul Philharmonic will collaborate with Jung Jae-il, the composer behind the Squid Game soundtrack, to perform his latest works. It'll be fascinating to see how the orchestra reinterprets contemporary music once again. That sounds like something to mark on the calendar. Thank you for your report today, Yoo-jin. Always a pleasure.

Enjoying Dasik, traditional Korean sweets

2025/02/14 20:00

It's Valentine's Day today, and for those of you here in South Korea seeking perhaps a sweet traditional twist for this day, our Ahn Sung-jin was out and about. Do take a look. “On Valentine’s Day, February 14th, it’s common to see stores with large displays of chocolate and candy. But for those that are looking for something different, Korean traditional sweets can be the answer.” Boxes of colorful, visually appealing sweets these are known as Dasik. A popular snack during the Joseon dynasty, Dasik was also one of King Jeongjo's favorites. The cookie is made by kneading grain powder with honey. Most of the ingredients consist of all-natural ingredients. For example, grain powder can be made with grains, beans, sesame seeds and Barbary fig. These powders are beaten into finer particles and mixed with honey to create a dense dough texture. Once the consistency is there, they’re put into shaping tools to create delicate patterns of flowers, the Taegeuk emblem from the national flag or other traditional images. These days, shapes can be formed through a simple version of stamps. Nowadays these Korean traditional sweets can be overshadowed by modern desserts. That’s why Lee Yoon-sook works on keeping these alive. “I teach these classes with the hope that not only can people these days easily access our traditions, but also to blend aspects of Korean tradition and modernity in harmony.” So for those who aren’t familiar with these traditional sweets yet, why not give them a try. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

S. Korea sees job growth in Jan., gov't pledges record no. of public sector jobs in Q1

2025/02/14 20:00

Overall employment in Korea rebounded during the first month of this year but by age and sector, the trend remained largely inconsistent. Our Moon Hye-ryeon explains. South Korea’s job market saw a rebound last month, but employment challenges persist, particularly in the construction and manufacturing sectors. According to Statistics Korea’s employment report released on Friday, the number of employed people aged 15 or older reached just under 27-point-9 million in January, marking a year-on-year increase of 135-thousand. This comes following a decline in December. By industry, the health and social welfare sector led job gains, followed by professional, scientific, and technical services and the information and communication sector. However, jobs in construction saw the biggest decline since data collection began due to a slump in the construction sector, alongside a drop in manufacturing jobs for the seventh straight month despite booming semiconductor exports. Retail and wholesale employment also saw losses marking 11 consecutive months of decline. By age group, employment among those aged 60 or older saw the biggest increase, adding 340-thousand jobs. In contrast, younger workers struggled. The number of employed individuals aged 15 to 29 dropped by 218-thousand, the sharpest decline since January 2021. With this latest data, the country's Finance Minister and Acting President Choi Sang-mok pledged a series of measures to vitalize the country's job market during an economic policy meeting on Friday. "We will create over 1-point-2 million public sector jobs by the first quarter the highest number ever through expedited hiring." State-run institutions plan to increase new recruitment from 20-thousand last year to 24-thousand this year, and raise the proportion of long-term internships that are particularly favored by young job seekers. The government also signed an agreement with six major business associations to strengthen employment initiatives in the first half of the year. Beyond direct job creation, Choi outlined plans to allocate seven trillion Korean won just under 4-point-9 billion U.S. dollars in social infrastructure budgets, and 17 trillion Korean won in public institution investments to support the struggling construction sector. Employment and Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo who also attended the meeting, announced the launch of a platform next month to provide tailored job-matching services to young job-seekers looking to find work after graduation. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

Ministry of Economy and Finance data shows delay in recovery of domestic demand

2025/02/14 20:00

On the economic front. The authorities forecast a delay in the recovery of domestic demand as well as employment concerns, citing increasing risks at home and abroad. Cha Yun-kyung has more. The Ministry of Economy and Finance announced on Friday that there continue to be delays in the recovery of domestic demand and difficulties in employment in its latest economic green book, a monthly report on the South Korean economy. The ministry stated that domestic demand had shown some signs of recovery in the six months since May last year, however, this slowed from November, in contrast to its expectations, and continues to be in the doldrums. The falls in the indicators for domestic demand, including consumption and investment, have been worsening due to national political crisis and potential U.S. tariffs. Retail sales fell 0-point-6 percent compared to last month, and 3-point-3 percent comparing the same month last year. Negative figures in new employment, for two months in a row, are also drawing attention. The number of young people finding work decreased by 218-thousand, the largest drop since January, 2021. The government concluded that economic sentiment has dampened due to the expansion of domestic and external uncertainties, raising downward pressure on growth. Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.

Fire breaks out at construction site of luxury resort in Busan

2025/02/14 20:00

A fire broke out in one of the buildings of a luxury resort under construction in the city of Busan, killing at least six people and injuring dozens. Our Lee Soo-jin has the details. A fire that broke out in a construction site of a luxury resort in Busan has left six people dead. According to the Busan Metropolitan City Fire and Disaster Headquarters, the fire started at 10:51 AM near the swimming pool on the first floor of one of the hotel buildings under construction in Gijang County, on the eastern coast of Busan. Construction began of the Banyan Tree Haeundae Busan, in 2022, with its opening scheduled for this year. While the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency has launched an investigation into the exact cause of the fire, the blaze reportedly started among stacks of insulation material. Around 20 minutes after ignition, the fire department had deployed all personnel from a fire station in its jurisdiction, as well as a helicopter. At 12 PM, it raised its response to Level 2, which means the mobilization of up to 80 fire fighting units from 8 to 14 fire stations. The fire not only left six people dead, all of whom were working at the construction site, but also 25 who sustained minor injuries. "When we arrived at the scene, the fire was at its peak, and the six individuals were already unconscious by the time we began the rescue operation." Acting President Choi Sang-mok ordered relevant agencies such as the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the National Fire Agency to mobilize all available personnel and equipment. He also stated that the safety of the firefighters was of the utmost importance, and that every effort should be made to ensure that no lives were lost during search and rescue operations. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

Hamas to release three Israeli hostages this weekend as initially planned

2025/02/14 20:00

Elsewhere. The Palestinian militant group Hamas says it will release three Israeli hostages tomorrow as initially planned. Following talks with mediators from Egypt and Qatar, it has decided to go ahead with the release of the hostages, which will result in an exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Hamas had initially postponed the release, saying Israel was violating the ceasefire agreement. In response, Israel warned it would end the deal and resume fighting, if the hostages were not released.

Top diplomats of S. Korea, U.S., Japan to hold first trilateral meeting since Trump's return

2025/02/14 20:00

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul will meet with his American and Japanese counterparts on the sidelines of a security meeting in Munich tomorrow. Our foreign affairs correspondent Bae Eun-ji covers this agenda and its implications. South Korea's foreign minister left for Germany on Friday afternoon, to take part in the Munich Security Conference. There, Cho Tae-yul will hold talks with his American and Japanese counterparts, Marco Rubio and Takeshi Iwaya on Saturday local time. Seoul's foreign ministry said it hopes the meeting will become an opportunity to discuss ways to handle North Korea's nuclear threats and economic security issues. This is the first time that the three officials are meeting, since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the White House on January 20th. Pundits say this signifies that the trilateral cooperation will continue throughout Trump's second term in office. In a press conference on Friday, the Japanese foreign minister hinted that the three countries will reaffirm the importance of their partnership during the meeting. Also on Saturday, Cho will sit down for a separate bilateral meeting with Rubio, where they will likely address the two countries' alliance and ways to boost security cooperation. This is set to be another very important meeting for South Korea, especially at a time when the country is left without a leader, and as Trump's return poses a challenge for not only South Korea but also for the rest of the world. "The security issue is the most important issue, because Trump already mentioned several times that he has every intention to meet Kim Jong-un again. So South Korea should have a very close cooperation with the United States to how to deal with the denuclearization issue with the in the United States." The meeting will reportedly be held for only about half an hour, so some experts believe there won't be enough time to talk about other issues that Seoul is concerned about, such as tarrifs or sharing costs needed for American troops in South Korea. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.

Constitutional Court adds another hearing date to Pres. Yoon's impeachment trial

2025/02/14 20:00

The Constitutional Court has decided to add one more hearing to President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial, after accepting his request for three key witnesses to be questioned, including Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. The Court on Friday announced it has scheduled a tenth hearing date for next Thursday at 2 PM, where the Prime Minister will stand witness. Han has previously stated the President did not hold a proper Cabinet meeting before declaring martial law. Former Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Service Hong Jang-won was summoned last week by the National Assembly's side but will return to be questioned by Yoon's legal team. National Police Agency Commissioner General Cho Ji-ho will be questioned by both sides, after missing two witness sessions due to health reasons. Yoon's hearing was supposed to end this week but was extended as the bench needs more time to review evidence. Yoon's lawyers filed a petition to change the date of the 10th hearing. The team has previously complained it lacks time to prepare for twice-weekly hearings, given that the president is also preparing for a criminal trial.

9th Winter Asiad wrap-up: Team Korea adds 1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze on last day

2025/02/14 20:00

Curtains are going down on the 9th Asian Winter Games in the Chinese city of Harbin tonight. Team Korea is set to finish the games with one of its best performances ever. Our Choi Soo-hyung has the latest. On the last day of the 2025 Winter Asiad in Harbin Team Korea added more medals. In the women's curling event, South Korea won the gold medal facing off against China. South Korea's team of Gim Eun-ji, Kim Min-ji, Kim Su-ji, Seol Ye-eun, and Seol Ye-ji beat China 7 to 2. The men's team had to make do with silver, after losing to the Philippines in the final 3 to 5. This is the Philippines' first-ever medal at a Winter Asian Games. The South Korean men's ice hockey team beat China to win the bronze medal. With a 5 to 2 victory, Team Korea finishes on the podium for the fourth consecutive time, since the 2007 Changchun Games. Although they lost to Japan in a shootout during the semifinals, they earned a come-from-behind win against China in the bronze medal match. Meanwhile, the women's team lost to Kazakhstan and finished in fourth place. On Thursday two figure skaters made history, winning gold medals in both the men's and women's figure skating single event. Male figure skater Cha Jun-hwan and female figure skater Kim Chae-yeon ranked second after the short program. However, both skaters stood on the top podium following flawless free skating programs. Cha finished with a final tally of 281-point-6-9 points while Kim scored 219-point-4-4 points overall, a personal best, beating three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto of Japan. In summary South Korea finished the Winter Asian Games this year with 16 gold medals, 15 silver, and 14 bronze, for second place behind China in the rankings. After surpassing Team Korea's all-time best gold medal tally it secured a total of 45 medals. The 9th edition of the Winter Asian Games in Harbin ends on Friday with the closing ceremony at 9 PM Korean time. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

Constitutional Court sets additional hearings for President Yoon's impeachment trial

2025/02/14 20:30

Welcome to Within The Frame where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus, I'm Kim Mok-yeon. As the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk Yeol continues to unfold, key developments are drawing intense public attention. With the Constitutional Court wrapping up its eighth hearing and scheduling additional sessions, the trial is entering a critical final phase. The court's focus now shifts to assessing conflicting testimonies and handling disputes over procedural fairness, all while navigating external factors that could affect the timeline of its ruling. Meanwhile, parallel criminal proceedings on insurrection charges add further complexity to the legal landscape. To help us break down the progress of the impeachment trial and the potential implications for President Yoon's legal battles, we invite Song Se-ryun, Professor of Law at Kyung Hee University. Welcome, Professor. Also joining us is Joung W. Hwang, Chief Executive Officer of LawQuant LLC. Great to have you. (SONG) 1. The Constitutional Court wrapped up its eighth hearing session yesterday. How do you assess the overall progress of the impeachment trial so far? Do you believe sufficient questioning has been conducted? The court has categorized the National Assembly's grounds for impeachment into five major points. What are the specific key issues? (HWANG) 2. The key issue in yesterday's eighth hearing was whether there was an order to arrest political figures during the declaration of martial law. Former National Intelligence Service Deputy Director Hong Jang-won testified that there was indeed such an order, whereas National Intelligence Service Director Cho Tae-yong questioned the credibility of that testimony. How do you think the justices will assess these conflicting statements? What will they focus on when making their decision? (SONG) 3. President Yoon's legal team has criticized the court's handling of the trial, claiming that it prioritized "speedy proceedings over fairness." They took issue with the fact that written statements from investigative agencies were accepted as evidence despite key witnesses changing their testimony. The Constitutional Court maintains that it is following legal precedents. What is your opinion on this dispute? (HWANG) 4. The Constitutional Court has scheduled additional hearings for President Yoon's impeachment trial. It announced that it will hold two more sessions on the 18th and 20th, although Yoon has requested a rescheduling for the 20th. What is the reason for scheduling these additional hearings, and what key issues should be noted? (SONG) 5. It seems that the timeline for President Yoon's impeachment trial could be affected by the appointment of Ma Eun-hyuk as a justice. Why is this the case? Given this, when do you think the final ruling in President Yoon's impeachment trial will be delivered? (HWANG) 6. Meanwhile, on February 10th, the court concluded arguments in the jurisdiction dispute over Acting President Choi Sang-mok's decision to defer Ma Eun-hyuk's appointment and postponed the ruling. How do you expect the Constitutional Court to make a decision, and what implications might it have for Acting President Choi's next steps? (SONG) 7. On February 11th, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea recommended that President Yoon's right to defend himself in the impeachment trial should be protected. Some civic groups have criticized this decision, calling for reforms within the Commission. What motivated the Commission's recommendation? How might this affect President Yoon's ongoing trial? (HWANG) 8. Let's move on to the criminal trial related to the rebellion charges. Separate from the impeachment trial, the first pretrial hearing on the rebellion leadership charges will take place on the 20th. What are the main issues in this criminal trial? (SONG) 9. On the 20th, in addition to the criminal trial, a hearing will be held on President Yoon's request to be released from detention. Why did the court decide to address the detention cancellation request on the same day as his insurrection case's first pretrial hearing? What are the chances that the court will grant his release? (HWANG) 10. There is speculation that President Yoon's legal team may adopt a delay strategy, claiming that it is difficult to handle both the impeachment trial and the criminal trial simultaneously. When do you expect a ruling in the criminal trial? What procedural steps lie ahead?

Trump outlines reciprocal tariff plan, eyes implementation as early as April

2025/02/14 17:00

The Trump administration will seek a TAILORED tariff response to its trade partners imposing on them the same level of import duty they place on American products entering their markets and a tangible plan is poised to go into effect in early April. Shin Ha-young has details. U.S. President Donald Trump reinforced his push to impose reciprocal tariffs on global trade partners to match the tax rates that other countries impose on imports, fueling fears of a trade war. On Thursday, Trump signed a presidential memorandum ordering a comprehensive plan for reciprocal tariffs, aiming to deliver a level playing field for American workers. "On trade, I have decided for purposes of fairness that I will charge a reciprocal tariff, meaning whatever countries charge the United States of America we will charge them. No more, no less." The latest announcement comes as part of Trump's aggressive push for more balanced trade, following recent 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum. Trump's tariffs would also target countries with non-tariff trade barriers such as subsidies, burdensome regulations, and value-added taxes. Another element to be considered is exchange rate policies in countries. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said his team would be ready to hand a plan to the president by April 1st. Although South Korea has signed a free trade agreement with the U.S. and has eliminated most tariffs, Trump's plan to consider non-tariff barriers could lead to him imposing reciprocal tariffs on South Korea. South Korea posted a record trade surplus with the U.S. last year. Trump has also signaled potential tariffs on automobiles with the White House also seeking to renegotiate the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act, which could affect South Korea’s top two exports to the U.S., raising concerns about further economic impact. Despite fears of a global economic slowdown, Trump is expected to continue his hardline tariff policy. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

How K-pop is going classic

2025/02/14 17:00

Meanwhile the art of blending genres is REDEFINING the MUSIC scene. In fact our culture correspondent Song Yoo-jin highlights the efforts here to offer audiences the chance to indulge in beautiful classical renditions of popular K-pop songs. Do take a listen. This 2007 hit by SM Entertainment's girl group Girls' Generation, "Into the New World," has jumped into a new world -the world of classical music. Since 2020, SM Entertainment and the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra have teamed up, with eight classical renditions of songs by artists such as SHINee, Red Velvet, and aespa. Now, they've brought the world's first-ever K-pop orchestra live concert to Seoul. "It's the first of a kind in that the entire setlist performed by the orchestra is K-pop songs. So we're very proud of that." Performing over a dozen K-pop songs, is a new experience for everyone, starting with arranging the music. The key was to keep the original while adding originality. "When arranging, we sample works by famous classical music composers. We looked for pieces that would blend well with the original K-pop track to stay true to the original and highlight the classical elements." Then, it was practice, practice, and more practice until every note hit the mark. "We watched the original performance videos and compared them to the sheet music. Our goal was to bring the lyrics, rhythms, melodies, and emotional depth of the K-pop tracks into our orchestral performance." Finding this new groove wasn't easy. The orchestra's associate concertmaster compares it to learning a new language. "Because we're so used to playing all the you know normal classics Beethoven, Mahler, Brahms you know, and then now you know all these K-pop songs, so it's been a little bit challenging in a way." But in the end, they discovered the beauty of crossing genres and unlocking new potential. "We're taking K-pop's flashy performance and transforming it into something you can appreciate with just your ears. We're not just playing melodies. We're reimagining K-pop as 21st-century orchestral music. Even if you're not familiar with the original songs, you'll find something to enjoy." Two genres, worlds apart, have come together to strike a chord, creating something groundbreaking, making classics trendy, and turning trends into timeless classics. Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News.

Enjoying Dasik, traditional Korean sweets

2025/02/14 17:00

And it's Valentine's Day today and for those of you here in South Korea seeking perhaps a sweet traditional twist to celebrate this day of love my colleague Ahn Sung-jin was out and about. Do take a look. "On Valentine's Day, February 14th, it's common to see stores with large displays of chocolate and candy. But for those that are looking for something different, Korean traditional sweets can be the answer." Boxes of colorful, visually appealing sweets --these are known as Dasik. A popular snack during the Joseon dynasty, Dasik was also one of King Jeongjo's favorites. The cookie is made by kneading grain powder with honey. Most of the ingredients consist of all-natural ingredients. For example, grain powder can be made with grains, beans, sesame seeds and Barbary fig. These powders are beaten into finer particles and mixed with honey to create a dense dough texture. Once the consistency is there, they're put into shaping tools to create delicate patterns of flowers, the Taegeuk emblem from the national flag or other traditional images. These days, shapes can be formed through a simple version of stamps. Nowadays these Korean traditional sweets can be overshadowed by modern desserts. That's why Lee Yoon-sook works on keeping these alive. "I teach these classes with the hope that not only can people these days easily access our traditions, but also to blend aspects of Korean tradition and modernity in harmony." So for those who aren't familiar with these traditional sweets yet, why not give them a try. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

U.S. space commander warns N. Korea from challenging ROK-U.S. alliance

2025/02/14 17:00

The head of the U.S. Space Operations Command has warned North Korea against any attempt to challenge the ROK-U.S. security alliance. Speaking to Seoul-based Yonhap News Agency Lieutenant General David Miller asserted that North Korea's missile technology had become the biggest threat to the Korean peninsula but affirmed that any action by the regime aimed at testing South Korea's security alliance with the U.S. would be a grave mistake. He also stressed while it remained difficult to predict North Korea's actions the U.S. has been focused on detecting and tracking the regime's related provocations.

Lawmakers ask Cabinet members about gov't plans to keep schools safe

2025/02/14 17:00

The National Assembly today kicked off its third and final day of government interpellation. Social matters took center stage with the heads of labor safety and education ministries fielding various questions on ensuring broader public safety. Lawmakers urged the government to hammer out measures to better protect children within school grounds especially in light of the recent shocking murder of a young elementary school student by a teacher in Daejeon. They also called for plans to better prevent workplace bullying and to improve the overall working conditions for contract and freelance workers.

Constitutional Court adds another hearing date to Pres. Yoon's impeachment trial

2025/02/14 17:00

The Constitutional Court has extended by one week the formal hearings of President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial and accepted his request for Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to take the witness stand. Following its announcement late Thursday of a ninth hearing scheduled for next Tuesday afternoon the court TODAY announced a TENTH hearing for Thursday afternoon during which the Prime Minister will be questioned. Also former Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Service Hong Jang-won will return to face questions from the president's defense team while National Police Agency Commissioner General Cho Ji-ho will be questioned by both sides after missing two earlier sessions owing to health reasons. Meanwhile the president's legal team has filed a petition requesting a change in the date of the 10th hearing citing insufficient time for preparation as the president also faces a criminal trial expected to start on the same day that is February 20th.

S. Korea's February green book presents bleaker economic assessment

2025/02/14 17:00

And taking into account the Trump administration's tariff plans the Economy and Finance Ministry here has sounded the alarm over the growing presence of risks factors against the South Korean economy. In its latest monthly economic report shared on this Friday the ministry also underscored a host of national concerns such as the reality that domestic spending and construction investment remain sluggish while employment trends remain uneven. February's assessment stands more bleak compared to that shared in January.

S. Korea sees job growth in Jan., gov't pledges record no. of public sector jobs in Q1

2025/02/14 17:00

And on the topic of jobs. Overall employment in Korea rebounded during the first month of this year but by age and sector the trend remained largely inconsistent. Our correspondent Moon Hye-ryeon explains. South Korea's job market saw a rebound last month, but employment challenges persist, particularly in the construction and manufacturing sectors. According to Statistics Korea's employment report released on Friday, the number of employed people aged 15 or older reached just under 27-point-9 million in January, marking a year-on-year increase of 135-thousand. This comes following a decline in December. By industry, the health and social welfare sector led job gains, followed by professional, scientific, and technical services and the information and communication sector. However, jobs in construction saw the biggest decline since data collection began due to a slump in the construction sector, alongside a drop in manufacturing jobs for the seventh straight month despite booming semiconductor exports. Retail and wholesale employment also saw losses --marking 11 consecutive months of decline. By age group, employment among those aged 60 or older saw the biggest increase, adding 340-thousand jobs. In contrast, younger workers struggled. The number of employed individuals aged 15 to 29 dropped by 218-thousand, the sharpest decline since January 2021. With this latest data, the country's Finance Minister and Acting President Choi Sang-mok pledged a series of measures to vitalize the country's job market during an economic policy meeting on Friday. "We will create over 1-point-2 million public sector jobs by the first quarter --the highest number ever --through expedited hiring." State-run institutions plan to increase new recruitment from 20-thousand last year to 24-thousand this year, and raise the proportion of long-term internships that are particularly favored by young job seekers. The government also signed an agreement with six major business associations to strengthen employment initiatives in the first half of the year. Beyond direct job creation, Choi outlined plans to allocate seven trillion Korean won --just under 4-point-9 billion U.S. dollars --in social infrastructure budgets, and 17 trillion Korean won in public institution investments to support the struggling construction sector. Employment and Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo who also attended the meeting, announced the launch of a platform next month to provide tailored job-matching services to young job-seekers looking to find work after graduation. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

Top diplomats of S. Korea, U.S., Japan to hold first trilateral meeting since Trump's return

2025/02/14 17:00

Come tomorrow that is Saturday Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul will meet with his American and Japanese counterparts on the sidelines of a security meeting in Munich. Our foreign affairs correspondent Bae Eun-ji covers this agenda and its implications. South Korea's foreign minister left for Germany on Friday afternoon, to take part in the Munich Security Conference. There, Cho Tae-yul will hold talks with his American and Japanese counterparts, Marco Rubio and Takeshi Iwaya on Saturday local time. Seoul's foreign ministry said it hopes the meeting will become an opportunity to discuss ways to handle North Korea's nuclear threats and economic security issues. This is the first time that the three officials are meeting, since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the White House on January 20th. Pundits say this signifies that the trilateral cooperation will continue throughout Trump's second term in office. In a press conference on Friday, the Japanese foreign minister hinted that the three countries will reaffirm the importance of their partnership during the meeting. Also on Saturday, Cho will sit down for a separate bilateral meeting with Rubio, where they will likely address the two countries' alliance and ways to boost security cooperation. This is set to be another very important meeting for South Korea, especially at a time when the country is left without a leader, and as Trump's return poses a challenge for not only South Korea but also for the rest of the world. "The security issue is the most important issue, because Trump already mentioned several times that he has every intention to meet Kim Jong-un again. So South Korea should have a very close cooperation with the United States to how to deal with the denuclearization issue with the in the United States." The meeting will reportedly be held for only about half an hour, so some experts believe there won't be enough time to talk about other issues that Seoul is concerned about, such as tarrifs or sharing costs needed for American troops in South Korea. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.