News

U.S. Supreme Court grapples with Trump bid to restrict birthright citizenship

2025/05/16 10:00

Starting in the U.S., the Supreme Court began hearing arguments concerning President Donald Trump's executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship for children born in the United States to undocumented or temporary immigrant parents. On Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court started a session on the executive order President Trump signed in January. Trump's order seeks to reinterpret the 14th Amendment's Citizenship Clause and would deny automatic citizenship to children born on U.S. soil unless at least one parent is a 하a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. The directive faced legal challenges from 22 states and civil rights groups, with several federal judges issuing nationwide injunctions to stop its enforcement. The case taken by the Supreme Court centers on whether lower courts have the authority to issue such injunctions. During the session, justices' opinions were divided with arguments saying that allowing the injunctions may overextend judicial authority whereas limiting the injunctions could lead to an inconsistency of laws across states. Meanwhile, protests occurred outside the courthouse, where demonstrators voiced support for birthright citizenship. The Supreme Court's decision is expected by the end of June.

Presidential candidate debates begin May 18, to air live on Arirang TV

2025/05/16 10:00

And Arirang TV will broadcast three live debates featuring the major candidates, beginning this Sunday. Each debate will spotlight a different theme — economy on May 18th, social issues on May 23rd, and politics on May 27th. Four candidates will take the stage: Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party, Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party, Lee Jun-seok from the Reform Party, and Kwon Young-guk of the Democratic Labor Party. All three debates will begin at 8 PM Korea Standard Time.

Latest polls on S. Korean Presidential Election: Do conservatives stand a chance?

2025/05/16 10:00

We saw official campaigning for the June 3rd election kick off this Monday, following a tumultuous weekend, during which a highly anticipated merger fell through. We have our correspondent Oh Soo-young to fill us in on how the race looks in the latest opinion polls, less than three weeks until the election. Good morning, Soo-young. 1. Last weekend, we saw the main conservative ticket finalised, and we now have three leading contenders. That's right. People Power Party candidate Kim Moon-soo emerged as the leading conservative candidate, since there was no merger with independent contender former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, for a joint conservative ticket against Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung, who has led the polls since January. This appears to have somewhat stabilised support for candidates among the electorate,. however, it didn't change the overall landscape of the race. In the latest NBS poll released on Thursday,.. support for Lee Jae-myung increased to 49 percent, up 6 percentage points from the previous week, while Kim Moon-soo's decreased by 2 points to 27 percent, and Lee Jun-seok's remained the same at 7 percent. Gallup Korea's poll on Wednesday showed higher support for Lee Jae-myung with 51 percent support, followed by Kim Moon-soo at 31 percent, and Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Party at 8 percent. 57 percent of respondents wanted a change of government from the right to a left-leaning administration,. the highest figure recorded since January,. while 32 percent wanted to retain a conservative administration. So despite the candidate swap controversy that erupted last week, the public opinion trend hasn't shown much deviation after the final race lineup was confirmed. Bad news for conservative candidates. 2. The liberal contender has been far ahead in the polls, but there is still over two weeks left in the race. In politics, anything can happen during that time. Yes, Lee Jae-myung does very much lead the polls but pundits aren't ruling out the possibility of swing voters changing the equation of this three-way race. While Gallup's survey indicates around 8 percent of voters are undecided or aren't sure who to back, the NBS poll shows a higher figure, at 16 percent. 17 percent of those surveyed say they might change the candidate they support. The group most open to changing their support were voters in their 20s at 42 percent, and 30s at 30 percent. This is notably the same bracket that determined the outcome of the previous 2022 Presidential Election where the recently-removed Yoon Suk Yeol won with a 0.78 percent lead over Lee Jae-myung. These shifts are significant because other age brackets have remained relatively stable in their support --the 40s and 50s still lean heavily toward a change from a conservative to progressive government, while the 60s and 70s favour continuity. So it seems that if those undecided voters favor Kim Moon-soo over Lee Jae-myung, this presidential election, just like the last one, could come down to a 1 to 2 percentage point margin. That's why we've seen the candidates targeting centrist voters over the past week, with the two right-leaning contenders Kim Moon-soo and Lee Jun-seok trying to solidify their conservative base as well. 3. So third party candidate Lee Jun-seok is now perceived as a potential factor for the conservative ticket. Yes. Over the weeks, there's been a slight but significant increase of support for the right-leaning candidate, who is presenting himself as a youthful and forward-looking conservative candidate. However, his support base is precarious as half of those who back him say they might vote for another candidate. This potential shift actually gives him the power of alignment. If he merges with the leading conservative candidate PPP's Kim Moon-soo, they could together have roughly 40 percent support. Lee has so far loudly criticised the PPP's push to join forces, and it seems half of his supporters don't want a merger. "A merger might happen under this scenario: If Kim Moon-soo's approval rating rises significantly, and if Lee Jun-seok can add even a little bit to that, then there's a chance they can win. Because Lee Jun-seok is still young, if he doesn't agree to unify under those circumstances, he risks being blamed for the conservatives losing so he has to avoid that. But if support for Kim Moon-soo doesn't rise that much while Lee Jun-seok's support actually surpasses 10 percent, a merger is unlikely." Well, we'll see how the first TV debate between the contenders this Sunday might sway the voters. Thanks for coming in today Sooyoung.

Reform Party candidate calls for higher inmate productivity, slams conservatives calling for merger

2025/05/16 10:00

And Reform Party's Lee Jun-seok took the time to sit down with students marking Teachers' Day on Thursday. The talks took place over lunch at Seoul National University of Education, as he continued his campus cafeteria outreach to college students. Also on the same day, he announced prison reform proposing inmates participate in higher value labor such as machinery assembly and digital operations rather than tasks like sewing and cleaning. In response to inquiry about a coalition with the main conservative camp, he condemned those seeking "political engineering".

PPP's Kim calls martial law declaration 'inappropriate' and apologizes amid calls to expell Yoon

2025/05/16 10:00

The conservative party's Kim Moon-soo kicked off Friday morning by reaching out to commuters again. On Thursday, he spent the day apologizing to the South Korean people for the failed martial law order by former President Yoon Suk Yeol. Our Kim Do-yeon reports. Returning to Seoul on Thursday after a three-day tour of the southeast, People Power Party presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo kept a low profile — with no major rallies — possibly taking time to regroup at his campaign headquarters. But attention quickly turned to a familiar issue: the legacy of impeached former president Yoon Suk Yeol and his declaration of martial law. Kim, at a press conference, issued a second public apology. "So I sincerely and respectfully apologize — to those struggling to make a living outside of the capital region, to many whose lives have become more difficult, to those feeling weighed down or disheartened, and to all affected by the deepening divisions in public opinion." Kim was also asked about whether Yoon should be expelled from the party. He responded that the decision to leave rests solely with Yoon. That came after newly appointed interim leader Kim Yong-tae said in a morning interview that expulsion could be on the table and that he plans to personally suggest that Yoon step down. Some in the party agree, arguing that distancing from Yoon is critical to winning over undecided voters, who are largely critical of the martial law controversy. Meanwhile, the PPP continued its attacks on rival Lee Jae-myung, this time by protesting outside the Supreme Court. The party accuses the Democratic Party of pressuring the judiciary branch after the Supreme Court ruled against Lee in his election violation case and sent it back to a lower court for a guilty verdict. The DP has since moved to summon Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae for a hearing, started pushing for a special probe, and is even reviewing a possible impeachment. "They say democracy is about the rule of law — but have you ever seen anything so absurd? A criminal threatening a judge, summoning a judge for a hearing, launching a special investigation into a judge, or even trying to impeach a judge? Have you ever heard of such madness?" On the policy front, Kim marked Teachers' Day by unveiling his education pledges — including bringing AI into classrooms and restoring teachers' authority, saying excessive student protections have weakened discipline while also strengthening public education. He also appealed his diplomatic skills, as he met interim U.S. Ambassador Joseph Yun. While the discussion remains private, Kim's chief of staff said they talked candidly about the Korean Peninsula and tariff issues. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

DP's Lee Jae-myung campaigns in liberal stronghold; pledging to foster renewable energy industry

2025/05/16 10:00

The liberal party's Lee Jae-myung will continue to solidify the party's traditionally firm grip in the Jeolla-do provinces on Friday. Yesterday, in Jeollanam-do Province, he vowed balanced regional growth. Our Shin Ha-young has the wrapup. After spending the past few days trying to win support in traditionally conservative strongholds, Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung focused on rallying support in his party's stronghold. Lee's campaign on Thursday took him through Jeollanam-do Province, including the cities of Gwangyang , Yeosu , Suncheon and Mokpo. Kicking off his tour of this region, Lee pointed to the concentration of power in the capital area as the biggest problem South Korea was facing. He emphasized balanced regional development, which is one of his 10 major campaign pledges. In line with this, he highlighted fostering the renewable energy industry as a pledge tailored to the Jeolla-do provinces, saying the southwest coast holds great potential for renewables. "We don't have a clear plan for renewables yet as we move away from fossil fuels due to global warming. Energy prices are likely to go up, so we need to develop our own resources. That's why I think we should actively grow the renewable energy industry, especially along the southwestern coast and in the Jeolla-do provinces." During his visit to Yeosu, Lee outlined his energy plan, pledging to turn the Jeollanam-do coast into a global renewable energy hub by building a so-called "energy highway". He said the region has plenty of resources but lacks transmission lines, promising to fix the issue and unlock the area's full energy potential. "Why can't we build a country with balanced regional development, where companies come for local renewable energy? With Lee Jae-myung's leadership, we can change the nation just like we saw in Seongnam and Gyeonggi-do, and just like the DP has changed." Ahead of his rally in the party's stronghold, Lee visited Hadong, Gyeongsangnam-do Province, near the border between Jeolla-do and Gyeongsang-do provinces. There, he met with young people at Hwagae Market to discuss concerns about jobs, housing and child care. The choice of location and participants from different regions reflected Lee's intention to promote regional harmony. Lee will continue his campaign on Friday in Jeollabuk-do Province, visiting the cities of Iksan and Jeonju. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

Trump touts US$ 200 bil. deal with UAE which includes AI cooperation

2025/05/16 10:00

The White House announced on Thursday that the U.S. and the UAE have agreed on 200 billion U.S. dollars worth of deals during President Donald Trump's Middle East trip, including cooperation in the AI sector. Washington says the two sides agreed on AI cooperation, including a promise to invest in data centers in the U.S. The U.S. and UAE will partner up on a massive AI campus, which is being touted as the largest such facility outside of the U.S. The Abu Dhabi data center will have a 5-gigawatt capacity and cover almost 26 square kilometers. The AI cooperation deal will also allow the Middle Eastern nation to import up to 500-thousand cutting-edge AI semiconductors annually from Nvidia starting this year.

Trump touts 'freedom zone' plan for Gaza as scores killed in Israeli airstrikes on enclave

2025/05/16 10:00

Scores of people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza on Thursday as U.S. President Donald Trump repeated his plan of turning the enclave into a "freedom zone." Trump was speaking during his trip to the Middle East, which did not include a stopover in Israel. Lee Seung-jae has more. With ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas stalled, the Israeli military conducted airstrikes on dozens of sites in Gaza from Wednesday night and into Thursday. The latest barrage of airstrikes killed at least 114 Gazans, with witnesses saying the Israeli military targeted medical facilities, including pediatric clinics. The airstrikes were also carried out as U.S. President Donald Trump was on his tour of the Middle East. Israel was excluded from his itinerary. However, Trump on Thursday doubled down on his proposal to displace Gazans, stressing again that the enclave should be made into a "freedom zone." Speaking to reporters after a round table with business leaders in Qatar, Trump said that "Gaza has been a territory of death and destruction for many years," adding that the U.S. should "get involved and make it a "freedom zone." All Arab states have rejected his plan, with Hamas calling it "ethnic cleansing." Meanwhile, Israeli media reported that ceasefire talks mediated by the U.S. have not made any progress due to differences in opinion between Israel and Hamas. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian delegations delayed by a day

2025/05/16 10:00

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy slammed Russia for not taking peace talks seriously by sending a delegation that he said lacked decision-makers. The peace talks which were scheduled for Thursday but have reportedly been delayed until Friday without a face of between Ukraine and Russia's leaders. Our Kim Bo-kyoung reports. All eyes were fixed on the first direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in more than three years, which were supposed to take place on Thursday but are now expected to happen on Friday in Istanbul. However, the negotiations failed to materialize amid criticism over the standard of the Russian delegation. Russian President Vladimir Putin was a noticeable absence on Moscow's list of attendees despite proposing the talks and a challenge from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to meet face to face. While making his announcement regarding the team headed by his defense minister to Istanbul for the peace talks, Zelenskyy criticized Moscow for not taking the negotiations seriously. "After we understood the level of the Russian delegation, we see that, unfortunately, they are not taking the real negotiations very seriously. So far, we do not see among those present anyone who actually makes decisions." The sides have also been separated with regard to the outcomes they each want from the direct talks. While Ukraine's top priority is a ceasefire, the Russian delegation, led by Vladimir Medinsky, said their goal was to "eliminate the basic root causes of the conflict", and to sooner or later establish long-term peace. He added that these negotiations are a continuation of the peace process that fell through in 2022, when Ukraine saw Russian demands as a threat to its sovereignty. Regarding the meeting, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday expressed limited optimism, saying Washington frankly does not have high expectations of the negotiations. Speaking to reporters in the southern Turkish city of Antalya, he said only the direct engagement between the U.S. and Russia could result in a breakthrough. "And frankly at this point I think it's abundantly clear that the only way we're going to have a breakthrough here is between President Trump and President Putin." Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

DP's Lee Jae-myung campaigns in liberal stronghold; pledging to foster renewable energy industry

2025/05/15 20:00

Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min. On the fourth day of official campaigning, liberal party candidate Lee Jae-myung continued his trek across the country, this time, to his party's stronghold. His message there was directed towards balanced regional growth. Our correspondent Shin Ha-young reports. After spending the past few days trying to win support in traditionally conservative strongholds, Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung focused on rallying support in his party's stronghold. Lee's campaign on Thursday took him through Jeollanam-do Province, including the cities of Gwangyang , Yeosu , Suncheon and Mokpo. Kicking off his tour of this region, Lee pointed to the concentration of power in the capital area as the biggest problem South Korea was facing. He emphasized balanced regional development, which is one of his 10 major campaign pledges. In line with this, he highlighted fostering the renewable energy industry as a pledge tailored to the Jeolla-do provinces, saying the southwest coast holds great potential for renewables. "We don't have a clear plan for renewables yet as we move away from fossil fuels due to global warming. Energy prices are likely to go up, so we need to develop our own resources. That's why I think we should actively grow the renewable energy industry, especially along the southwestern coast and in the Jeolla-do provinces." During his visit to Yeosu, Lee outlined his energy plan, pledging to turn the Jeollanam-do coast into a global renewable energy hub by building a so-called "energy highway". He said the region has plenty of resources but lacks transmission lines, promising to fix the issue and unlock the area's full energy potential. "Why can't we build a country with balanced regional development, where companies come for local renewable energy? With Lee Jae-myung's leadership, we can change the nation --just like we saw in Seongnam and Gyeonggi-do, and just like the DP has changed." Ahead of his rally in the party's stronghold, Lee visited Hadong, Gyeongsangnam-do Province, near the border between Jeolla-do and Gyeongsang-do provinces. There, he met with young people at Hwagae Market to discuss concerns about jobs, housing and child care. The choice of location and participants from different regions reflected Lee's intention to promote regional harmony. Lee will continue his campaign on Friday in Jeollabuk-do Province, visiting the cities of Iksan and Jeonju. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

[Weather] Strong rain in south of the country, showers in central areas

2025/05/15 20:00

Early summer-like heat eased off a bit with some rain today. This rain will continue mainly in the south tomorrow. In particular, heavy rain will be concentrated around Jeju Island and the south coast. In the mountainous areas of Jeju Island, there will be strong rain of around 20 to 30 millimeters per hour. Showers are forecast around the central parts of the country tomorrow afternoon. The amount of rainfall is not large with around 5 to 20 millimeters, but there is a possibility of sudden heavy rain or gusty winds, thunder, lightning, and hail. Tomorrow morning, Seoul and Chuncheon will start off at 16 degrees Celsius, Busan and Gyeongju at 17 degrees. Highs will move up to 24 degrees in Seoul and Chuncheon, 20 degrees in Busan. Clear and warm spring weather will come back on Sunday throughout the country. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

S. Korea fines Temu 1.37 billion won for transferring personal data overseas

2025/05/15 20:00

South Korea's data protection authority has fined Chinese e-commerce platform Temu for transferring user data overseas without prior notification. The Personal Information Protection Commission fined Temu some 1-point-37 billion won, or about 980-thousand U.S. dollars, on Thursday. Temu shared personal information such as names, addresses, purchase histories, and customs codes required for customs clearance to companies in 10 countries, including China and Singapore. Under the Personal Information Protection Act, if a company needs to entrust or store personal information overseas to fulfill a contract, it must either disclose this in its privacy policy or notify the user by email.

U.S signs major security and economic deals with Qatar

2025/05/15 20:00

U.S. President Donald Trump was in Doha as part his Middle East trip, where he has sealed major deals with Qatar for defense and the economy. Shin Se-byuck has the details. U.S. President Donald Trump, currently on a four-day Gulf tour, signed a series of major security and economic agreements worth at least 1-point-2 trillion U.S. dollars with Qatar on Wednesday. This came after Trump signed a similar multi-billion-dollar deal with Saudi Arabia the day before. According to the White House, the package aims to boost U.S. exports and attract foreign investment in exchange for enhanced security cooperation. The package includes a record-breaking deal for American aircraft maker Boeing to supply Qatar Airways. "From Boeing, it's the largest order of jets in the history of Boeing, that's pretty good. It's over $200 billion, but 160 in terms of the jets, that's fantastic. So that's a record." The White House said the plane contract between the two countries is expected to support some 154-thousand American jobs annually. Additionally, U.S. energy engineering firm McDermott has entered into a partnership with Qatar Energy, to develop critical energy infrastructure through seven projects worth 8-point-5 billion dollars. Defense deals were also part of the package. Raytheon secured a contract worth 1 billion dollars to bolster Qatar's drone defense capabilities. And, General Atomics signed an agreement worth 2 billion dollars to supply the Gulf state with unmanned military aircraft. The White House added that both sides signed a letter of intent to strengthen security cooperation, including support for Qatar's air and maritime defense systems and burden-sharing at the Al Udeid Air Base, which is the largest U.S. military base in the region. Trump is set to conclude his trip on Thursday with a final stop in the United Arab Emirates. Shin Se-byuck, Arirang News.

Kremlin names delegation heading to Istanbul for peace talks

2025/05/15 20:00

Peace talks are scheduled for Thursday in Istanbul hoping to end the war between Russia and Ukraine that's been dragging on for over three years. A meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy looks unlikely. Lee Seung-jae has the latest. After remaining silent on who's headed to Istanbul for peace talks with Ukraine,.. the Kremlin has finally announced the list of officials taking part. The delegation will be led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, who was present at the first attempt at peace talks in Istanbul back in March 2022. Along with Medinsky, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin and the chief of Russia's military intelligence agency, Igor Kostyukov, will also be at the talks. Not on the list, though, is Russian President Vladimir Putin, who many speculated could be involved in direct talks. Despite a much-anticipated sit-down between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, no such talks appear to be on the horizon. With Putin seemingly out of the picture, U.S. President Donald Trump has also decided not to go to Istanbul. According to Reuters on Wednesday, citing a Trump administration official, Trump has decided to skip the peace talks. The U.S. leader has said over the past week that he was considering coming to mediate talks, raising hopes for a trilateral summit between the leaders of the U.S., 러시아 and Ukraine. Zelenskyy had called on both leaders to come to Istanbul, and also said the presence of Trump could have a major impact on the negotiations. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

N. Korean-background students mark Teachers’ Day at unique school in South

2025/05/15 20:00

Today, May 15th, is Teachers' Day here in South Korea and at one special school, students from a North Korean background whose guardians went to great lengths to offer them a new lease on life are sharing their own gratitude. Our Kim Jung-sil has the story. At first glance, it looks like any other Teachers' Day celebration in South Korea— students handing over carnations, writing thank-you notes, and singing songs for their teachers. But at this school, those small gestures carry a different weight. Hangyeore Middle & High in Gyeonggi-do Province is the only school in South Korea dedicated to students from North Korean backgrounds, whether they arrived themselves, or were born to defectors, sometimes even in third countries along the way. "Here at Hangyeore School, where all the students come from North Korean backgrounds, Teachers' Day may seem like any other, but it also reflects how they are adjusting to life here in the South." "It wouldn't be fun if they knew, so we planned it all in secret. That made it way better." "These teachers honestly feel like lifesavers to me. I don't usually get to thank them, so this was my chance." It's more than a surprise event, it's a milestone in their journey of adapting to a new culture and life. "I hope this stays with them as a good memory—and maybe one day, they'll pass it on to their own students." With 115 students enrolled, 31 in the middle school, Hangyeore offers more than academics. Teachers here often step in as mentors and guardians, helping students bridge two very different worlds. "We follow the national curriculum, but also help students adjust: socially, emotionally, and for the future. Some still speak with a North Korean accent, but they're finding their place here with confidence." Named after the word for "one people," Hangyeore is more than just a school. It's a place where students with North Korean backgrounds begin to shape new lives. For them, this is one of many moments helping to build that life in the South. Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.

APEC trade ministers' meeting kicks off in S. Korea amid economic uncertainty from Trump's tariffs

2025/05/15 20:00

Trade officials of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation kicked off their two-day meeting in Korea's Jeju today against the backdrop of tougher trade conditions in light of U.S. tariffs. Our foreign affairs correspondent Bae Eun-ji has the latest. Top trade officials from 21 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation member states, including the U.S. and China, have gathered on Jeju Island ahead of the APEC leaders' summit later this year. Led by South Korea's Minister for Trade Cheong In-kyo, this is the first time in 20 years that the country is hosting the APEC trade ministers' meeting. "I hope today's meeting will lay a solid foundation for dialogue and collaboration to overcome the political and economic challenges as well as uncertainties that we encounter." On the sidelines of the event, Cheong held a bilateral meeting with China's top trade envoy, Li Chenggang, and also sat down for talks with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Thursday evening. Greer is also set to meet South Korea's Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Ahn Duk-geun on Friday. The two officials last met in Washington three weeks ago, where South Korea requested exemptions from reciprocal tariffs, while offering cooperation on shipbuilding and energy. Both sides are currently working to produce a package of deals to remove new U.S. tariffs before the July 8th deadline, when the 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs is lifted. "This year's event especially drew a lot of attention as major APEC member countries are seeking trade deals with the United States, after President Trump announced a sweeping set of tariffs in April." With trade officials from the U.S. and China both here in Jeju, a meeting between them on Thursday afternoon was also closely watched, as this could be seen as a potential move to make further progress to address trade friction. This comes after the world's two largest economies agreed last weekend in Geneva to temporarily lower most tariffs in a bid to defuse the trade war. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News, Jeju.

[Econ & Biz] Economic pledges dominate S. Korea's presidential campaign trail: "AI" and "trade" as keywords

2025/05/15 20:00

As the country prepares to elect its next president, one particular theme is consistent across all major campaigns, though their approaches may differ: the economy. We now turn to our economics correspondent Moon Hye-ryeon for this topic. Hye-ryeon, the economy does seem to take a central role in the race, just like in the past, but anything worth noticing this time? South Korea is grappling with slowing economic growth and global uncertainties stemming from U.S. trade policies. Recent data has shown that the country's economy shrank in the first quarter of the year, and economic institutions at home and abroad are revising down their economic projections for South Korea this year. As a result, both candidates are presenting themselves as the one best equipped to stabilize the economy and prepare for long-term competitiveness. But beyond that, experts point out something very strategic — not just what the candidates are promising, but how they're presenting it. "What voters should pay attention to isn't just the substance of the pledges, but the level of priority they're given. Where a candidate places an issue — whether it ranks first or tenth — tells us a great deal about what they're really focused on." So when AI shows up as Lee Jae-myung's number one pledge, and as Kim Moon-soo's second, it sends a clear message about what they each see as central to Korea's economic future. Let's talk about that. How do their AI strategies compare? Both propose investing 100 trillion won — approximately 71 billion U.S. dollars — signaling the scale of ambition. But the way they plan to use that funding is quite different. "We need to take a look at what role our national community should play in preparing for an AI-driven society." "For the initial takeoff, we need to pour in concentrated funding and scout top talent from around the world." Lee Jae-myung emphasizes public access. His "AI for All" initiative would offer citizens free, advanced AI services — including a Korean-made version of ChatGPT. He also pledges to secure over 50 thousand high-performance GPUs and establish a national AI data cluster. Meanwhile, Kim Moon-soo proposes a public-private fund to foster AI unicorn firms and expand industry talent. And he has very specific targets for talent: he plans to train 200 thousand young AI professionals through expanded graduate programs and software-centered universities. In terms of regulation, they overlap in principle — both agree that Korea's current regulatory framework is lagging behind. Lee wants to use special exemptions to help AI-convergent industries grow more quickly. Kim, on the other hand, talks about aligning AI regulation with global standards and conducting impact assessments before new rules are introduced. It's a recognition that if Korea wants to compete with the likes of the U.S. or China, it can't afford red tape that slows down innovation. And worth mentioning here — although less prominent in the polls — is Lee Jun-seok, the former People Power Party leader now running as a third-party candidate. His AI vision calls for a dramatic reduction in state intervention and wants market-driven AI innovation, with stronger digital sovereignty and open-source infrastructure at the core. His stance appeals to younger, more tech-literate voters — but lacks the large-scale public investment strategies the other two are promising. Let's move to another key area of concern: trade. Do they differ there, too? Very much so, trade actually centers around Kim Moon-soo's top pledge. He's proposing a reset of Korea's trade strategy, starting with an immediate South Korea–U.S. summit and new negotiations on tariffs. It's a very proactive, outward-facing plan. Lee Jae-myung is more focused on domestic resilience. While he acknowledges the need to adapt to the global economic order, he doesn't emphasize alliances or trade pacts in the same way. Instead, he prioritizes homegrown innovation and economic self-reliance — in line with his vision of building a more robust domestic economy that's less vulnerable to external shocks. Lee Jun-seok, again, takes a different line: he supports a decentralized, tech-led foreign trade approach — advocating for the use of blockchain in customs, logistics, and trade settlement to reduce dependence on geopolitical dynamics. Thank you for your insight, Hye-ryeon. Thank you for having me.

Reform Party candidate calls for higher inmate productivity, slams conservatives calling for merger

2025/05/15 20:00

Also on the campaign trail. Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok sat down with students at Seoul National University of Education in light of Teachers' Day today. The talks took place over lunch as he continued his campus cafeteria outreach to college students. Earlier today, he announced prison reform proposing inmates participate in higher value labor such as machinery assembly and digital operations rather than tasks like sewing and cleaning. He added such labor would serve to raise the standard of economic and social contribution by those incarcerated. Meanwhile, in response to inquiry about a coalition with the main conservative camp he condemned those seeking "political engineering".

S. Korea’s 2025 election amid shifting voter sentiment

2025/05/15 20:00

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon. With just 19 days to go before Korea's 21st presidential election on June 3rd, the race is intensifying—not just between the candidates, but in the minds of voters still weighing their choices. Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party is currently leading in national polls, while Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party and Lee Jun-seok of the minor New Reform Party are both vying to reshape the conservative field in very different ways. But beyond party lines, this election is taking place in the long shadow of a constitutional crisis, rising economic anxiety, and growing public demand for trustworthy leadership. Tonight, we delve into what's really driving this race—how voters are shifting, and what the candidates are proposing for the next administration. For this, we are joined by attorney An Jun-seong in the studio. Welcome. Also joining us online is Choi Hyun-sun, Professor of Public Administration at Myongji University. Great to see you. 1. (CHOI) Let's begin with the overall picture. Professor Choi, DP's Lee Jae-myung seems to be leading in major polls lately, but Korean elections often shift dramatically in the final days. Based on your past observations, how reliable are these early numbers, and what kind of voter movement typically happens in the final stretch? 2. (AN) Staying with the electoral map—Kim Moon-soo and Lee Jun-seok, who are both conservative candidates have decided to run separately. In practice, how do Korean voters usually respond to this kind of divided field? Do they consolidate around one candidate, or hold their ground? 3. (AN) And all of this is happening against a very particular backdrop. This is a presidential election that follows a constitutional crisis and the martial law controversy under former President Yoon Suk Yeol. How has that shaped the public's expectations about leadership or trust in political institutions? 4.(CHOI) Let's talk about voters who often shape the outcome. Younger and independent voters have shown more flexible voting patterns in recent elections, sometimes shifting between parties based on specific issues. How are campaigns this year trying to reach these voters—and do you expect them to play a decisive role again? 5.(CHOI) Now shifting into the policy front. The three main candidates offer distinct visions for the economy: Lee Jae-myung supports large-scale public investment, Kim Moon-soo promotes tax cuts and deregulation, and Lee Jun-seok emphasizes local wage flexibility and leaner government. How do these reflect different philosophies on economic recovery? 6.(AN) Let's look at what's legally possible. In terms of spending authority, Lee Jae-myung calls for major public investment without raising taxes, while Kim Moon-soo opposes additional debt, and Lee Jun-seok favors structural, not financial, solutions. Attorney An, under Korea's legal and institutional frameworks, how much flexibility does the presidency actually have to pursue these agendas? 7. (AN) Another area with wide divergence is pension reform. Lee Jae-myung wants to improve the current model, Kim Moon-soo backs automatic adjustment systems, while Lee Jun-seok proposes a dual-track overhaul. From a governance standpoint, how feasible is each? 8. (CHOI) And when it comes to environmental leadership— Lee Jae-myung pledges to phase out coal and expand renewables, Kim Moon-soo emphasizes nuclear energy and climate resilience, while Lee Jun-seok has not released a formal climate or energy policy. How might these differences shape Korea's environmental direction? 9. (BOTH) Finally, bringing it all together, from fiscal policy to institutional reform, each candidate is making ambitious promises. For voters trying to cut through the noise, what are the signs they should look for to judge which pledges are realistic and which may be campaign talk? What should signal credibility?

Economic pledges dominate S. Korea's presidential campaign trail: "AI" and "trade" as keywords

2025/05/15 17:00

Economy amid the growing presence of artificial intelligence is a key focus of the presidential contenders as they address voters with pledges to promote national interests. Our correspondent Moon Hye-ryeon reports. One theme is impossible to miss in the candidates' pledges as the country gears up for a pivotal presidential election: the economy. Both leading candidates — Lee Jae-myung and Kim Moon-soo — have packed their campaigns with economic and business-oriented policies, reflecting rising voter anxiety over Korea's stunted growth trajectory and external uncertainties. This year, there is an unprecedented emphasis on artificial intelligence — with Lee Jae-myung listing it as his top pledge, while Kim Moon-soo places the initiative second. "We need to take a look at what role our national community should play in preparing for an AI-driven society." "For the initial takeoff, we need to pour in concentrated funding and scout top talent from around the world." Both propose mobilizing 100 trillion Korean won in investment — approximately 71 billion U.S. dollars — but their approaches differ. Lee focuses on universal access through the "AI for All" project, which would offer free, advanced AI services — including a Korean version of ChatGPT — to all citizens. In contrast, Kim aims to strengthen the entire AI ecosystem by supporting unicorn firms and training 200-thousand young AI professionals through expanded AI graduate programs and software-centric universities. Although less prominent in the polls, Lee Jun-seok — the former People Power Party leader now running as a third-party candidate — addresses AI in his pledges to improve regulations and foster talent. Another pressing issue in this election is trade, particularly as reciprocal tariff exemptions from the United States expire just a month after the elections. Kim's top pledge is an immediate South Korea-U.S. summit and the launch of new tariff negotiations. Lee takes a more cautious approach, saying that negotiations with Washington need to be taken at a slow pace. While he acknowledges the need to respond pragmatically to shifts in the global order, he provides fewer details about trade or alliance-building. Despite these differences, both candidates deliver the same message: the economy is the defining issue of this election. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.