News

Israeli-U.S. hostage released by Hamas after more than 19 months

2025/05/13 17:00

In the Middle East. Just one day ahead of the U.S. leader's diplomatic tour to the region Hamas set free its last surviving American hostage. Choi Chi-hee has the latest. On Monday, local time, Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old Israeli-American from New Jersey, was released by Hamas. He had been captured during the October 7, 2023, attacks, while serving in the Israeli military. The announcement of the decision was made on Sunday night by Hamas, after holding days of talks with the United States. Israel had been bypassed during the negotiations. Alexander's release is the first since the resumed military operations by Israel, ending a previous ceasefire. The handover occurred in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza, where Alexander was transferred to the Red Cross before being handed over. Arriving at an Israeli military base, he reunited with his family. "How strong you are, I love you so much Edan, we were so worried." President Donald Trump praised the decision, which comes a day before he visits the Middle East on Tuesday, with scheduled stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, as a step toward peace. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the occasion "a very emotional moment," and credited the release to Israel's military pressure and political influence from the U.S. He reaffirmed his commitment to securing the release of the remaining hostages with plans to continue intensifying military actions in Gaza. Following Alexander's release, still in captivity in Gaza are 58 other hostages, and at least 20 of them are believed to be alive. Alexander was the last U.S. citizen held by Hamas thought to be still alive. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

Trump says he could join Russia, Ukraine ceasefire talks

2025/05/13 17:00

And the U.S. leader may join a much-anticipated possible meeting between the leaders of Ukraine and Russia in Türkiye later this week. Park Kun-woo has details. As Russia and Ukraine gear up for their upcoming ceasefire negotiations in Istanbul later this week, U.S. President Donald Trump said he might travel to Turkiye, as well. Speaking to reporters at the White House on Monday, Trump raised the prospects of taking part in the talks, in the hope of putting an end to the killing on the battlefields. "I was thinking about flying over. I don't know where I'm going to be on Thursday. I've got so many meetings. But I was thinking about actually flying over there. There's a possibility of it, I guess, if I think things can happen. But we've got to get it done. We've got to save 5,000 lives a week. 5,000 lives -it's really more than that. It's worse than that." President Trump will be visiting Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and and Qatar this week. Amid prospects of Trump taking part in the talks in Istanbul, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday that he wanted the U.S president to join the peace talks. In a post on X, Zelenskyy said that everyone in Ukraine wants President Trump to take part in the peace talks in Turkiye, calling it a "good idea." However, the Kremlin remained silent about whether Russian President Vladimir Putin would take part in the talks this week. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

Trump says China will "fully" open its markets to U.S. firms, hints at call with Xi

2025/05/13 17:00

U.S. President Donald Trump has hailed tariffs talks between his senior trade officials and their Chinese counterparts in Geneva this past weekend claiming that China will fully open its market to American businesses. Our correspondent Lee Soo-jin covers his remarks. President Donald Trump on Monday hailed the temporary de-escalation of trade tensions with China as a 'total reset' that will open China's market to American companies. "In addition, yesterday we achieved a total reset with China after productive talks in Geneva. And they've agreed to open China, fully open China. And, I think it's going to be fantastic for China. I think it's going to be fantastic for us." He also told reporters in the Oval Office that he may speak to Chinese President Xi Jinping later this week. The U.S. and China reached a trade agreement that slashes U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods to 30 percent from 1-hundred-45 percent, and lowers Chinese tariffs on U.S. imports to 10 percent from 1-hundred-25 percent, a decision that cuts tariffs from both nations by 1-hundred-15 percentage points. But sector-specific tariffs on automobiles, automobiles, aluminum, and steel are still in place, and China will be subject to the tariffs on pharmaceuticals that Trump previously said would arrive "shortly." The agreement followed two days of discussions held in Switzerland between senior-level officials from both nations. "Neither side wants a decoupling. We do want trade, we want more balanced trade and I think that both sides are committed to achieving that." "The two sides held in-depth exchanges on trade and economic issues of their respective concern. The atmosphere of the meeting was candid, in-depth and constructive." The deal,. which will be in place by May 14, will be effective for 90 days and sets up a framework for further talks between the two countries. U.S. stocks responded positively to the news, with the Dow Jones surging to close at 2-point-81 percent, the S&P 500 closed nearly 3-point-3 percent up, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq closed 4-point-35 percent compared to the previous trading day. This comes as investors reacted favorably to the unexpected progress in talks between the U.S. and China, sparking a rally in major tech stocks such as Nvidia, Nvidia, Amazon, and Meta. Companies like Best Buy and Dell Technologies, which rely heavily on Chinese manufacturing, also saw strong gains. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

Acting Pres. calls for transparent election, focus on people's livelihoods until new gov't

2025/05/13 17:00

Acting President Lee Ju-ho has urged government officials to maintain political neutrality as presidential hopefuls engage in campaigns ahead of the June third election. At a Cabinet meeting on this Tuesday he also called for efforts to ensure election transparency and public safety adding that this is the government's final priority. He further touched upon the presence of economic challenges especially for small business owners and the self-employed while underscoring the need for prompt execution of the recently passed supplementary budget to support them as well as victims of the recent wildfires.

Reform Party candidate declares himself 'future of Daegu City,' appealing to conservative voters

2025/05/13 17:00

Staying on the campaign trail. Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok was at the conservative stronghold of Daegu . Starting with a rally in the city's commercial center Lee then sat down for lunch with students at a university cafeteria before heading for talks with medical professionals. The 40-year-old candidate declared himself the future of Daegu emphasizing his youth and intentions to interact directly with all those involved. He also found fault with the conservative party presidential hopeful for failing to oust the impeached former president from the party. Similarly he accused the liberal party candidate of abusing legislative power to attack the former administration while inciting political division.

PPP’s Kim courts loyal base after impeachment fallout and presidential nomination turmoil

2025/05/13 17:00

Up next we turn to the conservative camp whose contender is seeking support within his comfort zone if you will. For more I have my colleague Kim Do-yeon joining me live. Do-yeon welcome. What's the latest at your end? Sun-hee, I'm here at Jagalchi Market in Busan, the nation's second-largest city. Now, Kim is set to appear on my stage behind me in about half an hour. Kim is making his campaign tours in conservative strongholds, including Busan here, but for this election, that might not be the case. The party started off with a disadvantage as this election comes with its former president being impeached and building up to the official campaign period the candidacy change issue caused internal turmoil between Kim and party leadership. And that could be seen as the reason why Kim has chosen this region especially starting with Daegu yesterday and continuing to rally in the southeast. Of course, he isn't coming empty-handed. At a rally before here in Busan he was in the neighboring city of Ulsan a major industrial city, and promised the locals there a major multi-cultural complex. "The city has requested a large-scale cultural complex, estimated to cost around 500 billion won. If I'm elected president, I'll make sure it doesn't take long. I'll allocate a special budget of that amount to Ulsan as soon as I take office." In addition, he mentioned more jobs, improved infrastructure in the region. His trip is not done, though. He's staying here overnight and will hit smaller cities in Gyeongsangnam-do Province tomorrow as well. 2. You mentioned earlier that the conservative camp entered this particular race on the back foot. How is its contender addressing this reality? Sun-hee, that's right. The elephant in the room remains former president Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached due to his martial law declaration. Kim, for the first time, apologized in a local media interview last night, acknowledging the chaos that ensued from the declaration. And this morning, he addressed calls to expel Yoon from the party. Take a listen. "Whether the president leaves the party or not is up to him. It's not right for our party to tell the president to leave or stay. " There are also voices in and around the party calling for an official public apology by the campaign about the martial law declaration. While that hasn't been decided, both matters pose a complex situation as Kim has to keep party loyalists happy but needs to expand his supporter base among the undecided voters. That's all for now, Sun-hee. All right Do-yeon thank you for that coverage from the conservative camp.

IMPACT OF GEOPOLITICS ON TACKLING TENSIONS

2025/05/13 17:00

Welcome to Press Perspective for this Tuesday May 13th here in Seoul. I'm Min Sun-hee. Today we touch upon the impact of geopolitics in addressing security tensions amid North Korea's latest launch of ballistic missiles fresh hostility between India and Pakistan and the fate of Russian aggression against Ukraine. For this I have Thomas Maresca with American news agency UPI. Thomas welcome back. I also have Ruy Valdes with Spanish news agency EFE Spain. Ruy it's good to have you here. 1) Thomas, let's begin with tensions here on the peninsula before touching upon those beyond borders. 2) Ruy, despite such defiance, Russia and China earlier during a summit in Moscow called on the international community to ease sanctions and pressure on North Korea. 3-1) Thomas, separately, there were reports here about a North Korean spy detained in China last week. 3-2) Thomas, some believe the reality that this report made it on the Chinese media, albeit just a few, is a sign of cracks in ties between Pyongyang and Beijing. 4) Ruy, back in Moscow, the leaders of Russia and China also pledged partnership amid much "geopolitical uncertainty". 5) Thomas, beyond the peninsula, tensions between India and Pakistan have been tamed for now, according to Trump. 6) Ruy, according to an Indian business daily, the U.S. leader is claiming credit for the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, but remains irritated by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. 7) Thomas, according to your media agency, the Ukrainian leader has shared intentions to sit down with his Russian counterpart for talks in Türkiye this coming Thursday. 8) Ruy, does a potential deal to end Russian aggression against Ukraine look to affect the North Korea-Russia military collaboration? All right.

K-wave AI News

2025/05/13 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. Korea's renowned conductor Chung Myung-whun has been named the new Music Director of Teatro alla Scala in Milan, one of the world's most prestigious opera houses. He is the first Asian to hold the post in the theater's nearly 250-year history. Chung will succeed Riccardo Chailly in 2027 and serve through February 2030, aligning with the term of general manager and artistic director Fortunato Ortombina. Ortombina proposed Chung's appointment to the board, which unanimously approved the decision. Since 1989, Chung has led nine operas in 84 performances and conducted 141 concerts at La Scala, more than any conductor who has not previously served as Music Director. YouTube's most famous star, Baby Shark, has been invited to feature in FOCUS Art Fair New York 2025, a prominent contemporary art fair held annually in the U.S. city. Under the theme, "The Artists of the Future Are Our Children," the exhibition will spotlight 10 years of Baby Shark's remarkable global journey. Pinkfong, the company behind the most popular version of Baby Shark, says the exhibition will open this Thursday for a four-day run, showcasing a range of multimedia displays and interactive content. The Baby Shark video, available in 25 languages across 244 countries, remains the most-watched video on YouTube, with 15.8 billion views to date. Step into the magical world of Pixar at an immersive exhibition now open in Seoul. Hosted at the Seongsu Cultural Arts Center, the exhibition spans 3,300 square meters and features 12 imaginative spaces inspired by iconic Pixar films like Toy Story, Inside Out, and Coco. After successful shows in Europe and Latin America, it has already drawn more than 2.6 million visitors globally. Korea, chosen for its vibrant moviegoing culture and passionate Pixar fanbase, is the first Asian country to host this event. It will run through June 29. That's all from me. Stay tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[K-Enter] MONSTA X's Hyungwon and actor Lee Do-hyun discharged from the military today.

2025/05/13 14:00

And staying on the topic of entertainment with our daily dose of K-enter news with you Walter. Fantastic news for MONSTA X fans with one of the boy group's members having completed his mandatory military service? Yes, MONSTA X's Hyungwon was officially discharged from the military on Tuesday, after completing 18 months of service at the Capital Mechanised Infantry Division in Gapyeong. He enlisted back in November 2023 and made headlines for earning an early promotion to corporal thanks to his exemplary service. Hyungwon now becomes the fifth MONSTA X member to complete military duties, just in time to rejoin the group ahead of their 10th anniversary. And an actor was released from the military as well? That's right, actor Lee Do-hyun also wrapped up his service on Tuesday, this time with the Air Force military band. He enlisted in August 2023, and after nearly 1 year and 9 months, he returns to the spotlight with a strong resume, even during his absence. His film "Exhuma" , released during his enlistment, smashed the box office with over 10 million viewers. And in May, Lee showed up to the Baeksang Arts Awards in uniform and walked away with the "Best New Actor award". Many global fans also know him from the Netflix series "The Glory". Congratulations to both men on finishing their service and we can't wait to see them both in action again. Next moving onto some news on one of the biggest k-pop girl groups in Korea quite literally, we are talking about tripleS. Yes, Soa. They might have a massive following but they are on record as the biggest female k-pop idol group in terms of members with 24 in total. TripleS have released their second full-length album "ASSEMBLE25" and to celebrate the release, tripleS held a showcase on Monday in Yongsan district, Seoul. The album includes 10 tracks, including "Wake Up", which was actually selected through fan voting to become the title track. It's an alternative dance track with a message that acknowledges the world isn't always bright, but encourages awakening even within the darkness. Finally moving onto some K-movie news. A press conference for the superhero action film "Hi.5" was held Monday at Lotte Cinema Konkuk University in Seoul. Director Kang Hyeong-cheol answered questions, along with most of the cast members. "Hi.5" is about five individuals who unexpectedly gain different superpowers through organ transplants, leading to chaotic encounters with those who covet their powers. Cast member Lee Jae-in shared her thoughts by saying, "I've always wanted to try action scenes, and the director kindly gave me that opportunity. I even threw a kick during our very first meeting." "Hi.5" is scheduled for May 30. Thanks for the news Walter, stick around. Time to take a look at what our AI anchor Ari has for us next. Ari take it away!

[Features-reporter] Here's how K-pop fans in Japan are living the dream at KCON JAPAN 2025

2025/05/13 14:00

Over this past weekend over in neighboring Japan a major K-culture festival opened doors to fans and our culture correspondent Song Yoo-jin was there to experience the event up close. Let's take a look. The Makuhari Messe, Japan's second-largest convention center, has been transformed into a K-pop arena. Fans scream, sing along, and wave neon-colored lightsticks as their favorite artists take to the stage. The lineup features rising and top-tier acts, like KiiiKiii, QWER, ZEROBASEONE, and HIGHLIGHT. This is KCON JAPAN 2025. "Where I am right now, KCON JAPAN, is one of the world's largest K-culture festivals. Here, you can experience almost everything you need to know about Korean culture." Launched in Los Angeles in 2012, KCON has toured over 10 countries, growing from just 10-thousand attendees to now more than 1-hundred-thousand per event. KCON JAPAN, the festival's first Asian edition, has been held annually since 2015. "Japan isn't just a major music market. It's the biggest overseas consumer of K-content. We're seeing more top-tier artists like G-Dragon, SEVENTEEN, and Stray Kids performing here, which shows K-pop is no longer just a foreign genre. It's now part of Japan's mainstream culture." Beyond the music, KCON offers hands-on experiences related to the broader Korean Wave. Dozens of booths introduce the latest in K-beauty, K-food, dramas, and merchandise. But what truly sets KCON apart is how close fans can get to their favorite stars. "It was amazing. Everything I'd hoped for. The fan service was incredible. They even blew hand kisses. It felt like we were close, like friends." "What really stood out was getting to see the artists up close when they visited the artist booths. Also, at the meet-and-greet, you could see them from a very close distance, something you don't normally get to experience." Having wrapped up its three-day run in Japan, KCON now prepares for its next stop, Los Angeles, this August. Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News, Chiba. So this was not just about a K-pop concert but so many elements of the Korean wave can be experienced at KCON. I spotted some popular beauty brands and food brands there as well it's like a "jonghap seonmul set" how you would say in Korean, the full hallyu gift set. And as Yoo-jin mentioned, KCON will be in LA in August. That'll actually be August first to third. And the K-pop lineup is being unveiled in separate announcements. What do we know so far? Fans in LA can look forward to a wonderful lineup, that includes aespa, NCT 127, RIIZE, MEOVV and MONSTA X. Speaking of MONSTA X, that's most likely going to include a specific member we'll talk about now.

Trump says China will "fully" open its markets to U.S. firms, hints at call with Xi

2025/05/13 10:00

U.S. President Donald Trump said China has agreed to 'fully' open its market to U.S. firms and signaled that he may speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, following a temporary tariff truce agreement. Our Lee Soo-jin has more. President Donald Trump on Monday hailed the temporary de-escalation of trade tensions with China as a 'total reset' that will open China's market to American companies. "In addition, yesterday we achieved a total reset with China after productive talks in Geneva. And they've agreed to open China, fully open China. And, I think it's going to be fantastic for China. I think it's going to be fantastic for us." He also told reporters in the Oval Office that he may speak to Chinese President Xi Jinping later this week. The U.S. and China reached a trade agreement that slashes U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods to 30 percent from 1-hundred-45 percent, and lowers Chinese tariffs on U.S. imports to 10 percent from 1-hundred-25 percent, a decision that cuts tariffs from both nations by 1-hundred-15 percent. But sector-specific tariffs on automobiles, automobiles, aluminum, and steel are still in place, and China will be subject to the tariffs on pharmaceuticals that Trump previously said would arrive "shortly." The agreement followed two days of discussions held in Switzerland between senior-level officials from both nations. "Neither side wants a decoupling. We do want trade, we want more balanced trade and I think that both sides are committed to achieving that." "The two sides held in-depth exchanges on trade and economic issues of their respective concern. The atmosphere of the meeting was candid, in-depth and constructive." The deal,. which will be in place by May 14, will be effective for 90 days and sets up a framework for further talks between the two countries. U.S. stocks responded positively to the news, with the Dow Jones surging to close at 2-point-81 percent, the S&P 500 closed nearly 3-point-3 percent up, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq closed 4-point-35 percent compared to the previous trading day. This comes as investors reacted favorably to the unexpected progress in talks between the U.S. and China, sparking a rally in major tech stocks such as Nvidia, Nvidia, Amazon, and Meta. Companies like Best Buy and Dell Technologies, which rely heavily on Chinese manufacturing, also saw strong gains. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

[Weather] Early summer warmth with strong UV rays

2025/05/13 10:00

It feels pleasant right now, but by the afternoon, it's going to warm up quite a bit, possibly even feeling a little hot for some. Here in Seoul, it will climb to around 25 degrees this afternoon. Daegu and Gangneung could see temperatures soaring to near 30 degrees Celsius along with plenty of sunshine. The sun will be quite strong today. We're expecting 'very high' levels for the UV index across most of the country, and ozone concentrations will likely reach 'unhealthy' levels, so be mindful of that if you're spending time outdoors. Checking on daily highs for other regions, Gwangju will reach 27 degrees Celsius, Gyeongju a warmer 29 degrees this afternoon. The capital area could have bad ultrafine dust levels in the first half of the day. Looking ahead, we have rain in the forecast for Thursday. That rain brings down the highs to near norms. However, Jeju will see on-and-off rain from Thursday into Saturday. Meanwhile, stay safe in the sun today!

Usher gives commencement speech at Emory University

2025/05/13 10:00

Finally, in the U.S., Grammy Award-winning R&B artist and philanthropist Usher Raymond IV delivered the keynote address at Emory University's 180th Commencement ceremony in Atlanta on Monday, local time. He also received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the university. In his speech, Usher encouraged graduates to "be a dreamer" and shared personal experiences, including the challenges he faced in his early education. He said while a diploma still matters, "it's not the paper that gives the power" and that "You create the value behind that degree." Usher's nonprofit organization, Usher's New Look, has supported over 55-thousand under-resourced young people in collaboration with Emory's Business School.

59 white South Africans land in U.S. under Trump refugee plan

2025/05/13 10:00

On Monday, the Trump administration welcomed 59 white South Africans as refugees to the United States. The move, backed by claims of racial persecution and violence in South Africa, has sparked widespread controversy for the policy being "racialized." President Donald Trump defended the decision by citing alleged "genocide," adding that white farmers in the country are "being killed," a claim that South African authorities and human rights organizations have strongly disputed. While the Trump administration has suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program in other parts of the world, the acceptance of the recent group of refugees garnered criticism for racial bias and undermining equity.

Pope urges media to end divisive language and calls for release of jailed reporters

2025/05/13 10:00

In his first encounter with the media, Pope Leo XIV , the first American pontiff, stressed the vital role of journalists and called for the release of imprisoned reporters worldwide. On Monday, May 12, Pope Leo addressed some 6,000 journalists at the Vatican and highlighted the importance of free speech and press freedom. At the same time, the Pope addressed the issue of divisive language by the media and called for an end to the "war of words and images," advocating for communication that promotes peace. The pontiff also condemned the imprisonment of journalists worldwide and reaffirmed the Church's solidarity with those imprisoned for reporting the truth. While stating that communication was about the "creation of culture," he warned against misusing artificial intelligence in journalism, stressing responsible use of the technology that can "benefit all of humanity."

Here's how K-pop fans in Japan are living the dream at KCON JAPAN 2025

2025/05/13 10:00

This past weekend was an especially exciting one for those K-culture lovers over in Japan, with one of the world's largest K-culture festivals, KCON JAPAN, having taken place there. Our culture correspondent Song Yoo-jin was there. The Makuhari Messe, Japan's second-largest convention center, has been transformed into a K-pop arena. Fans scream, sing along, and wave neon-colored lightsticks as their favorite artists take to the stage. The lineup features rising and top-tier acts, like KiiiKiii, QWER, ZEROBASEONE, and HIGHLIGHT. This is KCON JAPAN 2025. "Where I am right now, KCON JAPAN, is one of the world's largest K-culture festivals. Here, you can experience almost everything you need to know about Korean culture." Launched in Los Angeles in 2012, KCON has toured over 10 countries, growing from just 10-thousand attendees to now more than 1-hundred-thousand per event. KCON JAPAN, the festival's first Asian edition, has been held annually since 2015. "Japan isn't just a major music market. It's the biggest overseas consumer of K-content. We're seeing more top-tier artists like G-Dragon, SEVENTEEN, and Stray Kids performing here, which shows K-pop is no longer just a foreign genre. It's now part of Japan's mainstream culture." Beyond the music, KCON offers hands-on experiences related to the broader Korean Wave. Dozens of booths introduce the latest in K-beauty, K-food, dramas, and merchandise. But what truly sets KCON apart is how close fans can get to their favorite stars. "It was amazing. Everything I'd hoped for. The fan service was incredible. They even blew hand kisses. It felt like we were close, like friends." "What really stood out was getting to see the artists up close when they visited the artist booths. Also, at the meet-and-greet, you could see them from a very close distance, something you don't normally get to experience." Having wrapped up its three-day run in Japan, KCON now prepares for its next stop, Los Angeles, this August. Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News, Chiba.

On-point: Will 90-day pause 'reset' U.S.-China relations?

2025/05/13 10:00

The U.S. and China managed to agree to a break from their tariff spat for now. Will the 90-day pause really 'reset' their relations and draw out an ultimate end to the trade war? Let's turn to Professor Park Min-jung. Welcome back. 1. Professor Park, I think we can all agree that the U.S.-China deal came sooner than we all expected. What do you think was behind the outcome of Monday's negotiations? Was China more desperate here? Or the U.S.? 2. The U.S. and China have reached an agreement to slash tariffs by 115%. It means U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports will fall to 30%. It is a bigger cut than expected, but isn't 30% still a high tariff? 3. Then how is it a deal that satisfies both sides? Who won here? Did both win? 4. What's taking so long for South Korea and the U.S. to draw out a deal, then? Or are we not behind that much? Taking much-needed time? 5. Last week, the UK became the first country to strike a trade deal with the U.S. The U.S. agreed to cut tariffs on cars to as low as 10%, while the UK will lower barriers on agricultural and auto products. If South Korea were to make a deal with the U.S. by product, similar to the UK deal, what would it look like? Thanks so much for connecting with us this morning. We appreciate it.

Reform Party candidate promises new future with stronger economy, democratic institutions

2025/05/13 10:00

And with the election seen as a three-way race, also joining the campaign trail is the Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok, who pledged to nourish the economy and rebuild institutions. Lee headed to an industrial complex in the southern city of Yeosu, calling for policies to revitalize the country's struggling export hubs. He also proposed introducing flexibility on the minimum wage, to boost labor competitiveness, while ramping up industrial safety standards. Upon his return to Seoul, he launched himself as a presidential contender at the age of 40, saying the upcoming election is a showdown between "the future and the past, integrity and corruption."

DP’s Lee Jae-myung heads south to visit 'K-Initiative Belt', focusing on economic vision

2025/05/13 10:00

South Korea is now officially in campaign mode for the June 3rd presidential election. The Democratic Party's Lee Jae-myung made his campaign debut in central Seoul, with a call for national unity. Our correspondent Shin Ha-young starts us off. Seoul's Gwanghwamun was the first stop of the official campaign of Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, where he drew around 20-thousand people. The DP launched the campaign and Lee delivered his first public speech as the official presidential candidate of the party on Monday at Cheonggye Plaza near Gwanghwamun. Lee's camp chose this place as his first stop because it's where people gathered with light sticks, calling for the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol. The DP refers to the process of overcoming the December 3rd martial law declaration and subsequent unrest as a "Revolution of Light." The concept of the campaign centers on "listening" and "unity." During the speech Lee emphasized that national unity was his number one priority. "I'm running not only as the DP's candidate, but for all people who seek to end insurrections, overcome crises, and ensure everyone's happiness. I will lead with humility to unite the country, which I believe is the president's most important duty." Lee's camp also outlined three key goals: recovery, 회복, growth, 성장, and happiness 행복 along with ten major pledges. These included boosting the economy, restoring democracy, strengthening national security, and overcoming challenges such as the low birth rate, the aging population, and climate change. The camp also emphasized transforming South Korea into one of the world's top three AI powers. After finishing in Seoul, Lee then headed south to visit what the party calls the "K-Initiative Belt," which includes Pangyo and Dongtan in Gyeonggi-do Province, as well as Daejeon. In Pangyo, known for its IT companies, Lee focused on innovation. He spoke with workers in IT research and development and said he plans to expand support for startups. On a visit to Dongtan, home to major chipmaker plants, Lee asked for support as he pledged to boost the semiconductor industry. "As part of his visit to the "K-Initiative Belt," Lee Jae-myung wrapped up the first day of his official campaign in Daejeon, a hub for scientific research, where he highlighted science and technology. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News, Daejeon."

Israeli-U.S. hostage released by Hamas

2025/05/13 10:00

Beginning in the Middle East, Hamas has released an American-Israeli soldier after more than 19 months of captivity in Gaza. Hamas said the release was a goodwill gesture toward the U.S. administration. On Monday, local time, Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old from New Jersey, was released by Hamas after being captured during the October 7, 2023, attacks. His release is the first since Israel resumed military operations in March, ending a previous ceasefire. The handover occurred in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza, where Alexander was transferred to the Red Cross before being handed over. President Donald Trump praised the decision, which comes a day before he visits the Middle East, as a step toward peace. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu credited the release to Israel's military pressure and political influence from the U.S. He reaffirmed his commitment to securing the release of the remaining hostages.